(Reuters) - Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Deryk Engelland has been suspended for three games for an illegal check to the head of Chicago Blackhawks forward Marcus Kruger, the National Hockey League announced on Thursday.
Less than nine minutes into Pittsburgh's 3-2 win on Tuesday, Engelland launched himself into Kruger, driving his forearm to the head of the Chicago forward.
NHL executive Brendan Shanahan explained the decision in a video posted on the league's website: "the way Engelland forcefully drives his hands and arms up and into the face area, makes this, in our eyes, a recklessly targeted shot to Kruger's head."
Kruger suffered a concussion from the hit.
No penalty was assessed on the play, but right after the hit, Blackhawks enforcer John Scott fought Engelland and received an instigator penalty on top of his fighting major and the Penguins scored on the ensuing power play.
Engelland, who will miss games against Winnipeg, Carolina and Philadelphia, will forfeit more than $9,000 of his salary, which will go to the Players' Emergency Assistance Fund.
(Reporting by Larry Fine in New York, Editing by Julian Linden)
