Lightning D Nesterov suspended 2 games

Tampa Bay Lightning defenceman Nikita Nesterov is expected to face the NHL’s Department of Player Safety for his hit from behind on Dallas Stars forward Curtis Mckenzie.

The incident occurred at 15:56 of the second period.

Nesterov was given a five-minute major for boarding and a game misconduct, while McKenzie was sent to the hospital in “excruciating pain”.

Following the vicious hit, tempers erupted between the two teams and a scuffle broke out.

The 22-year-old Nesterov will forfeit $7,983 in salary to go to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund. Considering Nesterov did neither, that the player was injured and that this was a clear boarding play the league moved forward with the suspension.

However, Ruff said that the Stars don’t really have a long-term diagnosis for McKenzie. Nesterov will be eligible to return to action next Friday night.

As for the Lightning, prospect Slater Koekkoek has been recalled from the Syracuse Crunch for the time being. Koekkoek, 21, played in three games for the Lightning last season without scoring a point.