Kings’ Jordan Nolan suspended two games by NHL for boarding

Kings forward Jordan Nolan was handed the second suspension of his short NHL career, a two-game penalty for boarding the Detroit Red Wings’ Darren Helm, meaning he will be out the rest of this trip.

The NHL Department of Player Safety announced the two-game suspension Sunday morning, hours before the Kings were to play the Carolina Hurricanes, after a morning telephone hearing. Representatives from the Kings’ front office were on the call. Nolan said he had not yet received an explanation for the decision.

“I was a little surprised and disappointed obviously,” Nolan said in a telephone interview. “I wasn’t expecting it, thought a fine or a one-game suspension. I thought two games was a little much.”

Based on his salary, Nolan will forfeit $17,073.18, with the funds going to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.

His previous suspension, for one game, was in March of last season for punching Edmonton Oilers left wing Jesse Joensuu. The league suspended him “punching an unsuspecting opponent.”

Nolan said he thought his previous suspension played a part in Sunday’s ruling, adding: “Obviously they’re going to keep track of you.”

Before that, Nolan had been fined by the league but never suspended.