HIT ON PETTERSSON NETS BAN
VANCOUVER The NHL has levied punishment for the incident that put Vancouver Canucks rookie forward Elias Pettersson in concussion protocol.
On Monday, the NHL suspended Florida defenceman Mike Matheson for two games without pay as a result of the play that injured Vancouver’s rookie Saturday. Pettersson was taken hard into the end boards and slammed to the ice by Matheson. There was no penalty on the play.
“We lost a bright young player to an injury that I don’t think was necessary,” Canucks coach Travis Green said Monday. “I’m pissed off right now still talking about it.”
Meanwhile, Canucks centre Jay Beagle is out six weeks with a broken forearm. Beagle was injured in the same game after blocking a shot. Beagle signed a four-year contract with the Canucks on July 1.