The National Hockey League has suspended Columbus Blue Jackets forward Matt Calvert for one playoff game for his brutal cross-check to Pittsburgh Penguins forward Tom Kuhnhackl late in the third period of Friday's Game 2.
With the Penguins en route to a 4-1 win and a 2-0 series lead over Columbus in their Eastern Conference quarterfinal series Friday night, Calvert cross-checked an unsuspecting Kuhnhackl in the shoulder area near center ice, snapping his stick in two. Calvert then circled back and knocked Kuhnhackl to the ice with a forearm to the head.
Sources told ESPN.com's Pierre LeBrun early Saturday that the league's Department of Player Safety would not be suspending Calvert for the incident, which took place with 35 seconds remaining in the game. But word surfaced later Saturday afternoon that the league had reconsidered punishing the Blue Jackets player for the incident, and a hearing was scheduled.
In a video announcing the suspension Saturday night, the NHL said dangerous or retaliatory plays meant to send a message in a playoff series will be viewed in that context and punished accordingly.
Kuhnhackl practiced Saturday. Had he been injured, the league would have factored that into the length of Calvert's suspension.
Calvert had never been fined or suspended before, and that did factor in. He was not made available to the media Saturday.
The next game in the best-of-seven series is set for Sunday in Columbus.
Calvert, 27, has one of the Blue Jackets' two goals in the opening two games.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
