Arizona Coyotes winger Jason Zucker has been suspended three games for boarding Nick Cousins of the Florida Panthers.
The hit came with 55 seconds remaining in the second period of Tuesday’s game. Zucker was assessed a major penalty for boarding, which referees Jake Brenk and Jordan Samuels-Thomas confirmed after review.
Just prior to Zucker’s infraction, Cousins ran into Arizona’s Juuso Valimaki. The Coyotes defenseman fell prior to the hit, turning a standard check along the boards into one where Cousins made unavoidable contact with Valimaki’s head. Zucker saw his teammate down, and charged Cousins, who was not expecting to be hit on the play, with the puck long gone.
The Coyotes winger drive Cousins into the boards from behind, hitting right through the numbers and causing Cousins’ head to hit the glass. He left the ice and did not return; Cousins did not practice Wednesday and is reportedly in concussion protocol.
Zucker also picked up a fighting major, as did Florida’s Gustav Forsling, with the Panthers’ blueliner getting an extra two for instigating along with a ten-minute misconduct.
Based on his average salary, Zucker forfeits $82,812.51 in salary as a result of the suspension. The Coyotes winger had not been previously fined nor suspended by the league.
The Florida Panthers went on to win the game 4-1. Referees were Jake Brenk (#26) and Jordan Samuels-Thomas (#42), with linesmen Caleb Apperson (#77) and Travis Gawryletz (#67).
