Blues' Lapierre gets five-game suspension
St. Louis Blues forward Maxim Lapierre was suspended for five games without pay for his hit on San Jose Sharks defenseman Dan Boyle during Tuesday night's game in St. Louis, the NHL's Department of Player Safety announced Friday.
Lapierre already sat out one game while awaiting an in-person hearing in New York with the league. He will lose $28,205.15 of his salary as a result of the suspension.
The hit, which took Boyle off the ice on a stretcher and to a St. Louis hospital, occurred at 5:22 of the first period. Lapierre was assessed a major penalty for checking from behind. Boyle was considered to be in a vulnerable position when the boarding occurred.
It wasn't Lapierre's only infraction during the game. He was given a game misconduct and a fighting major for a separate altercation.
The 37-year-old Boyle has one goal and one assist in six games this season.
