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Gabriel Landeskog Suspended Two Games; Brad Marchand Fined $5,000

BOSTON (CBS) -- The Colorado Avalanche will be without their captain for the next two games.

The NHL Department of Player Safety ruled Friday that Gabriel Landeskog will be suspended for two games for his hit on Brad Marchand on Thursday night at the TD Garden.

For a retaliatory punch, Marchand was fined $5,000.

In the video explaining the suspension, the NHL Department of Player Safety determined that Marchand's head was the main point of contact on Landeskog's hit.

It is important to note that Marchand is eligible to be hit on this play. In fact, at this spot on the ice and in possession of the puck, a player should expect that body contact is possible. But what no player should expect is that his head will be made the main point of contact of a body check.

What's more, though blind-side hits are not illegal in and of themselves, they place the onus entirely upon the player delivering the hit to ensure that the head is not the main point of contact. ... While we agree with Landeskog that initial contact is made to Marchand's shoulder, the brunt of the impact is delivered to Marchand's head. Therefore the head is the main point of contact on this play.

The Avalanche play Saturday night at Montreal and Tuesday night at Toronto.

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