St. Louis Blues forward Sammy Blais has been suspended two games for an illegal check to the head of Colorado Avalanche defenceman Devon Toews during the teams' season opener, the NHL's department of player safety announced Thursday.
The incident in question saw Blais clip Toews' head with his shoulder as the two players crossed paths behind the Colorado net early in the first period, sending Toews to the ice in pain. Blais was assessed a two-minute penalty for elbowing, and Toews was able to finish the game.
Blais, 24, has played parts of three seasons with the Blues thus far. He posted 13 points through 40 games with the club last season, after splitting the previous campaign between the big leagues and St. Louis' AHL affiliate in San Antonio.
Toews, 26, is in his first season with Colorado after being acquired in the off-season from the New York Islanders, with whom he played two seasons.
