(Sergei Belski/USA TODAY Sports Images)
By: Lucas Pearson | Follow Mer On Twitter @lucaspearson_
Boston Bruins forward has been given a three-game suspension for his illegal check to the head of New Jersey Devils’ Blake Coleman. It will cost him $219,512.19 in salary.
If he does not appeal, the suspension will have Backes missing the Bruins’ game in Buffalo on the 29th, their game at home against the Calgary Flames on January 3rd and most notably, the 2019 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic on New Year’s Day.
In the video released by the NHL Player Safety, they claim that the head was the main point of contact, and that the head contact was avoidable.
Boston’s David Backes has been suspended for three games for an illegal check to the head on New Jersey’s Blake Coleman. https://t.co/hpBwU4gKmK
— NHL Player Safety (@NHLPlayerSafety) December 28, 2018
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This is Backes’ second suspension in his 891 game career but also his second this year, making him a repeat offender. His last suspension came in a March 7th game against the Detroit Red Wings when he was suspended three games for a late, high hit that injured forward Frans Nielsen.
The suspension comes at a time when the Bruins were just getting back to full strength and will certainly be a blow to the team as Backes was playing his best hockey of the season.
This may open a door for the Bruins to call up forward Anders Bjork, who played in college at Notre Dame, for the Winter Classic taking place at Notre Dame Stadium.
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