Montreal Canadiens forward Josh Anderson was suspended for two games Sunday for boarding Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Alex Pietrangelo the night before.
Anderson was assessed a five-minute major and a game misconduct for the dangerous hit at the 10:08 mark of the third period in the Golden Knights’ 6-4 win on Saturday.
Pietrangelo went headfirst into the boards and sustained a bloody nose. In the ensuing scrum, Pietrangelo and Vegas teammate Alec Martinez were whistled for roughing Anderson.
Anderson had a hearing with the NHL Department of Player Safety on Sunday, leading to the suspension decision.
“It is after Pietrangelo pivots to face the wall that Anderson changes his skating lane, making an adjustment of his own to turning sharply into Pietrangelo’s backside to deliver a hit,” a Department of Player Safety official said in an explanation video.
“While we acknowledge that Anderson was attempting to make a hit through the shoulder as Pietrangelo was spinning, the onus is on Anderson to deliver this check in a legal fashion, minimize the force of the contact or avoid the hit entirely. Instead he hits forcefully into Pietrangelo’s back, driving him dangerously into the boards.”
Anderson previously had not been suspended or fined during his NHL career. He now will miss Montreal’s upcoming back-to-back: Tuesday at the Detroit Red Wings and Wednesday at home against the Vancouver Canucks.
Anderson, 28, has five points (three goals, two assists) and 19 penalty minutes through 12 games. He is in his third season with Montreal following six seasons with the Columbus Blue Jackets.
–Field Level Media
