The NHL’s Department of Player Safety has suspended Toronto forward Leo Komarov three games for elbowing Rangers captain Ryan McDonagh on Thursday night.
Komarov, who was tossed from the game for the hit, was judged to have “deliberately” elbowed McDonagh in the head, causing him to exit the contest entirely.
“It is important to note that Komarov is in control of this play,” the Department of Player Safety explained. “Backchecking through center ice, he has ample time to take a good angle of approach to deliver this hit in a legal fashion.
“While McDonagh is attempting to make a play with the puck, this is not a case where a player’s sudden or explosive movement may change a legal bodycheck into an illegal one.”
Komarov, Toronto’s leading goalscorer this year and lone All-Star representative, will now miss games against the Flyers, Predators and Hurricanes.
He’s eligible to return next Saturday, when the Leafs take on the Habs in Montreal.
Komarov will also forfeit $47,580.66 in salary to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.
Leo Komarov today: "I feel sorry for my teammates because I let them down...and I feel real sorry about Ryan, too."
— Jonas Siegel (@jonassiegel) February 19, 2016
Komarov: "I'm not trying to hurt people, I'm just hitting. Sometimes it goes like it goes."
— Jonas Siegel (@jonassiegel) February 19, 2016
The Rangers have yet to update McDonagh’s condition. He had recently missed time with a concussion.