Ducks’ Evgeny Artyukhin suspended for three games for hit that injured Dallas’ Matt Niskanen

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Ducks forward Evgeny Artyukhin was suspended for three games without pay by the NHL on Thursday, punishment for slew-footing Dallas defenseman Matt Niskanen during the teams’ game Wednesday at the Honda Center.

Niskanen was hurt on the play, which occurred as Artyukhin hit him in the corner at 4:23 of the second period. Niskanen sustained a head injury and didn’t return to the game; Artyukhin wasn’t penalized at the time, but the long arm of the law reached out and got him Thursday.

Artyukhin, who has two goals and is a plus-2 in eight games this season, will be eligible to return Oct. 31 at Phoenix.

[Updated at 3:18 p.m.: Because Artyukhin is considered a repeat offender (he served a two-game suspension last January) he will forfeit $34,756.11 in salary, based on the number of games in the season (82) rather than the number of days (193). The money will go to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.

‘While we disagree with the decision to suspend Artyukhin, we understand that the league is trying to protect players from injury,’ Ducks General Manager Bob Murray said in a statement. ‘We accept the ruling and will move on.’]

-- Helene Elliott