Montreal Canadiens forward Cedric Paquette was suspended for two games Monday following a hearing with the NHL Department of Player Safety for boarding Anaheim Ducks winger Trevor Zegras on Sunday.
Paquette was assessed a five-minute major penalty and game misconduct on Sunday for his hit on Zegras 10:17 into the first period of the Canadiens’ 4-2 loss to the Ducks. Zegras took issue with the hit and retaliated against Sonny Milano, earning a roughing minor in the ensuing scrum.
Zegras, 20, missed the remainder of the first period before returning for the second.
Zegras’ back was turned to Paquette throughout the play.
“The onus is on Paquette to deliver this hit in a legal fashion, minimize the force of the contact or avoid the hit entirely,” an NHL Department of Player Safety official said in a video explanation.
The official noted that Paquette has previously incurred one fine and served one suspension during his career. Now Paquette is due to miss Montreal’s home games Tuesday against the Detroit Red Wings and Thursday against the New York Islanders.
Paquette, 28, has yet to record a point in eight games this season. He has 93 points (51 goals, 42 assists) in 432 career games with the Tampa Bay Lightning, Ottawa Senators, Carolina Hurricanes and Canadiens.
–Field Level Media
