Boston Bruins winger Brad Marchand has been suspended for five games after his hit on New Jersey Devils winger Marcus Johansson.
Marchand received the ban for the incident during Boston's 3-2 win over New Jersey in the NHL on Tuesday.
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This is Marchand's sixth career suspension. The NHL cited his "repeat offender" status for the five-game ban.
"Marchand lunges both up and into Johansson, swinging his elbow forward through Johansson's head," the NHL Department of Player Safety said in a statement.
"This is an offensive, not a defensive manoeuvre and cannot be excused as accidental or defensive contact."
An All-Star, Marchand has scored 21 goals and added 29 assists for the Bruins this season, with Boston second in the Atlantic Division.
The Devils will update Johansson's condition on Thursday.
