Antoine Roussel will miss tonight’s Dallas Stars’ game against the Florida Panthers serving the first of his two-game suspension.
The NHL’s Department of Player Safety suspended Roussel for his crosscheck to the neck of Bruins’ defenseman Adam McQuaid on Tuesday night.
Roussel received a major penalty for cross checking and a game misconduct on the play.
“Of course, I have to take care of my stick,” Roussel told The Dallas Morning News. “I am just trying to protect myself. I didn’t want to fight.
“I blocked two shots before that with my right hand. My hand was numb, and I didn’t want to fight. … I tried to defend myself, and I am glad he didn’t get hurt.”
Roussel is eligible to return to the Stars’ lineup on Tuesday when Dallas visits St. Louis.