Winnipeg Jets forward Brendan Lemieux received a two-game suspension for an illegal hit to the head on Florida Panthers forward Vincent Trocheck, the NHL Department of Player Safety announced on Monday.
Winnipeg’s Brendan Lemieux has been suspended for two games for an illegal check to the head on Florida’s Vincent Trocheck. https://t.co/tQt7AWcmLH
— NHL Player Safety (@NHLPlayerSafety) November 5, 2018
In the video announcing the suspension, the NHL Department of Player Safety said Lemieux's hit was avoidable.
"It is important to note that the head is the main point of contact on this hit and that the head contact on this hit was avoidable," the department said. "If Lemieux wants to deliver this check, he must take an angle of approach that hits through Trocheck's shoulder and core rather than picking his head and making it the main point of contact."
The department decided on two games due to it being an illegal check to the head and that Lemieux had no prior history of a fine or a suspension.
Lemieux's hit came in the second period of the Jets' 4-2 loss to the Panthers on Friday in the second game between the two teams in the NHL Global Series in Finland. Panthers defenseman MacKenzie Weegar started a fight with Lemieux once play stopped.
Lemieux received a match penalty and a game misconduct for the hit. The Panthers scored what ended up being the game-winning goal on the ensuing power play.
As for Trocheck, he missed the remainder of the second period but came back for the third frame.
On Saturday, the NHL Department of Player Safety announced that Lemieux would have a hearing for his hit, which ended up taking place on Monday afternoon.
Lemieux, who has zero points in nine games this season, will miss Winnipeg's games against the Colorado Avalanche on Friday and against the New Jersey Devils on Sunday.