Advertisement

Oilers’ Corey Potter suspended two games for hit on Ducks’ Nick Bonino

Share

The NHL suspended Edmonton Oilers defenseman Corey Potter for two games Monday after he checked Ducks center Nick Bonino from behind into the boards Sunday.

Potter will lose $7,948.72 in salary.

After the second-period hit, Potter was hit with a five-minute penalty and game misconduct, leaving him out for the remainder of the Ducks’ fifth consecutive victory, 3-2, at Honda Center.

“At a dangerous distance from the boards, Potter shoves Bonino, sending him crashing violently into the boards,” an NHL Department of Player Safety official said in a video accompanying the decision. “This is boarding.

Advertisement

“At no point throughout this play does Potter see anything but Bonino’s numbers. … Potter must avoid this hit completely.”

Bonino grimaced and grabbed at his lower back when knocked to the ice, then returned to play after a visit to the dressing room. Earlier in the game, he scored the Ducks’ first goal, his ninth of the season.

Citing Bonino’s recovery and Potter’s absence of discipline in 113 previous NHL games, the league imposed the lighter sanction.

Bonino told The Times in a text message Monday that his “back is real stiff,” but that he expects to play Tuesday night against the Detroit Red Wings, who eliminated the Ducks in seven games in the first round of last season’s Stanley Cup playoffs.

ALSO:

Peyton Manning is a strange pick for sportsman of the year

Advertisement

Michigan State runs trick play on Stanford for Rose Bowl tickets

Bengals punter Kevin Huber’s jaw fractured on devastating hit [Video]

Advertisement