The NHL department of player safety announced Thursday that Senators defenseman Fredrik Claesson has been suspended two games for an illegal check to the head of Noel Acciari during Wednesday’s game in Boston.
Claesson hit Acciari in the neutral zone after the Bruins forward redirected a suicide pass from Charlie McAvoy up the ice. McAvoy’s pass put Acciari in a spot to get crushed, but Claesson made Acciari’s head the principal point of contact.
The Ottawa defenseman was given a match penalty for the hit and immediately had to fight Tim Schaller, who stood up for his linemate. In addition to a fighting major, Schaller was given a minor and misconduct for instigating.
Acciari returned to the game as the Bruins earned a 5-1 victory.