Chicago Blackhawks forward Brandon Bollig has been suspended for two games by the NHL for an illegal hit on Minnesota defenseman Keith Ballard in Friday night’s game at the Xcel Energy Center, ESPNChicago reports.
Bollig hit Ballard from behind and sent him into the boards in the second period. Ballard fell to the ice and laid face-first for a few seconds before getting up and skating off the ice on his own power, according to ESPN. Ballard went to the dressing room and didn’t return to the game.
Bollig received a two-minute minor penalty for boarding. The Wild won the game 4-2 to tie their best-of-seven series at 2-2.
Ballard has been ruled out of Game 5 Sunday night in Chicago with an upper-body injury sustained in the hit, USA Today reports. He missed seven games earlier this season with a concussion and had concussion issues earlier in the season as well.
The NHL released a video of the hit, explaining why it is illegal and why Bollig merited a two-game suspension.
“Bollig is tracking Ballard from the blue line and continues on his path, seeing his numbers the entire time,” the narrator said on the video. “As Ballard backhands the puck, Bollig drives into him from behind, causing him to violently impact the boards and glass.”
You can watch the entire explanatory video here.
