Detroit Red Wings' Justin Abdelkader (8) is helped off the ice by trainer Piet Van Zant, left, and teammate Daniel Alfredsson (11) after an illegal hit to the head by Pittsburgh Penguins' Deryk Engelland (5) during the first period of an NHL hockey game on Saturday, Dec. 14, 2013, in Detroit. The NHL has suspended Engelland for five games for an illegal check to the head of Abdelkader. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP/Duane Burleson
December 18, 2013 - 1:02 PM
NEW YORK, N.Y. - 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 Detroit forward 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.
News from © The Canadian Press, 2013