St. Louis Blues forward Oskar Sundqvist will miss one game and the player he injured could miss more.
The NHL announced Thursday that it was suspending Sundqvist for Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final for his Game 2 hit from behind on Boston Bruins defenseman Matt Grzelcyk. Sundqvist got a two-minute penalty on the play.
Grzelcyk, who had been taken to the hospital for evaluation, has a concussion and didn't make the trip to St. Louis, where the best-of-seven series resumes Saturday night. The Blues won 3-2 in overtime Wednesday night to tie the series 1-1.
"He's in protocol," Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy told reporters about the status of Grzelcyk. "Obviously we're going to list him day-to-day. It's Thursday, we don't play till Saturday. Typically I’ll give out the lineup either Friday or Saturday. … (We'll) see how it goes from there."
The NHL said in its suspension video that Sundqvist had adjusted his course in a way that made the hit more dangerous.
"While we acknowledge that Grzelcyk does adjust his body position in making a play on the puck, he does not do so in a way that absolves Sundqvist of responsibility for the nature of this hit," the video said. "From the moment Sundqvist hits the bottom of the faceoff circle until contact is made, Sundqvist sees nothing but Grzelcyk's numbers."
Grzelcyk grabbed his head after the hit, and he fell to the ice. He had to be helped to the dressing room.
The defenseman has three goals and four assists in 19 playoff games and was averaging about 17 minutes a night.
Cassidy isn't sure yet who would step in if Grzelcyk can't play in Game 3.
Blues center Oskar Sundqvist boards Bruins defenseman Matt Grzelcyk. (Photo: Greg M. Cooper, USA TODAY Sports)
"Johnny Moore played, Steven Kampfer played," Cassidy said. "Johnny is a left stick. Talked about that. That's the easiest thing, keep everyone on their strong sides. We'll look at that a little bit more."
Sundqvist plays on the Blues' productive fourth line and has nine points in 21 games.
"Sunny has always been a good defensive player, penalty killer for us, hard-working guy," Blues coach Craig Berube told reporters. "His offensive side has really come through this year, scoring quite a few goals (14) during the regular season. He's gotten four in the playoffs here. … He's playing a real good 200-foot game."
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