NEW YORK – Toronto Maple Leafs centre Auston Matthews has been suspended two games without pay for cross-checking Buffalo Sabres defenceman Rasmus Dahlin on Sunday.
Under the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement and, based on his average annual salary, Matthews will forfeit $116,402.50 for the incident.
The incident happened at the 14:55 mark of Sunday’s Heritage Classic outdoor game between the Leafs and Sabres at Tim Hortons Field in Hamilton, Ont. Matthews delivered a cross-check to Dahlin’s neck while the two players were battling in front of the Buffalo net.
“This (was) a high forceful cross-check that makes force with an opponent’s neck with sufficient force to warrant supplemental discipline,” the NHL’s department of player safety said of the event in a video describing their rationale for the suspension.
Both Matthews and Dahlin were assessed two-minute minor penalties on the play for cross-checking.
Dahlin received no extra discipline.
Matthews leads the NHL with 45 goals scored this season.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 14, 2022.