Marco Scandella suspended two games for Brock Nelson head shot

Think back to early Nov. 29. Marco Scandella was a strong, young defenseman for the Minnesota Wild without a rap sheet, on the verge of a big contract extension.

Now he's a repeat 'head shot'offender ... with a five-year $20 million deal. On Wednesday the NHL suspended Scandella two games for a Tuesday evening hit of Islanders forward Brock Nelson.

Patrick Burke ... do that thing you do:

This is quite descriptive by the NHL's Department of Player Safety -- since it tries to draw the line between a defenseman defending his territory legally, and a blueliner who hits an attacking player high, while driving his shoulder into the player's head.

The NHL states that Nelson is, “eligible to be checked on this play” and that it is indeed Scandella's job to “prevent him from penetrating any deeper into the Minnesota zone.”

The league also states that "some head contact is unavoidable" on such plays. But "On this play head contact is avoidable."

It believes that Scandella could have gone lower for the check, but instead stayed upright. And then showed a check -- against St. Louis on Nov. 29 -- where Scandella was fined on a similar play for hitting T.J. Oshie high. 

Both Nelson and Oshie were not seriously hurt on the Scandella hits and returned to their respective games.

Judging by the similarities of the plays, and the reference in the video, one has to wonder if Scandella would have been suspended for hitting Nelson without the Oshie play?

So, two games for Scandella (against the Sharks and Coyotes), repeat offender status and $11,021.50 out of his soon-to-be $4 million (average) per-year wallet.

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