Blue Jackets’ Johnson gets three-game suspension

The Columbus Blue Jackets forward lays out Carolina Hurricanes winger Jiri Tlusty with his shoulder. He would receive a minor penalty for the hit.

The Columbus Blue Jackets are down another everyday player.

The Blue Jackets will be without defenceman Jack Johnson for three games after he received a suspension from the NHL Department of Player Safety on Wednesday.

Chris Johnston on Twitter: “A three-game suspension for #CBJ Jack Johnson’s blindside hit on Jiri Tlusty, per @NHLPlayerSafety.”

In Columbus’ 4-2 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes Tuesday night, Johnson caught Tlusty with his head down while skating through the neutral zone and drilled him with a blindside hit to the head eight minutes into the third period.

Johnson received a minor penalty on the play for an illegal check to the head, while Tlusty left the game and did not return.

You can see a full explanation of the decision below:

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