Following a hearing with the NHL Department of Player Safety, Detroit Red Wings forward Michael Rasmussen was suspended two games on Friday for high-sticking Boston Bruins forward David Krejci on Thursday night.
Rasmussen drew a two-minute penalty at the 8:30 mark of the second period in the Red Wings’ 5-1 setback in Boston. Rasmussen hit Krejci along the boards and followed up with a stick to the head. Krejci left the game with an upper-body injury and did not return.
“While we agree with Rasmussen’s assertion that this was not a malicious attempt to hurt Krejci, players are responsible for their stick at all times,” a Department of Player Safety official said in an explanation video. “What causes this play to rise to the level of supplemental discipline is the reckless nature of the contact coupled with the force of the blow and the location where it lands on the opponent.”
It’s Rasmussen’s first discipline as an NHL player. He will be ineligible to play for Detroit at home against the Minnesota Wild on Saturday and at the Buffalo Sabres on Monday.
Rasmussen, 23, has one goal, four assists and 10 penalty minutes in seven games this season.
The 6-foot-6 Rasmussen has 62 points (27 goals, 35 assists) and 131 penalty minutes in 189 games since Detroit drafted him in the first round (ninth overall) in 2017.
–Field Level Media
