NEW YORK – The NHL has suspended Pittsburgh Penguins defenceman Deryk Engelland for five games for an illegal check to the head of Detroit Red Wings forward Justin Abdelkader.
Engelland landed his right shoulder high on Abdelkader late in the first period of Pittsburgh’s 4-1 win in Detroit on Saturday.
After Abdelkader struggled to get up and had to be helped off the ice, Engelland was called for a match penalty.
It’s Engelland’s second suspension for an illegal check to the head in his career. The suspension will cost him US$14,529.90 in salary.
