New York Islanders defenceman Andy Sutton has been suspended two games by the NHL for his hit from behind on Pittsburgh's Pascal Dupuis on Tuesday night.
Dupuis fell to the ice after being hit late in the third period, and was bleeding heavily when he was helped to the dressing room. Sutton received a five-minute major for boarding and a game misconduct.
Sutton spoke to media after the game and expressed remorse for his actions. Sutton and Dupuis were former teammates with both the Minnesota Wild and Atlanta Thrashers.
"I feel awful," Sutton told Newsday. "I played with Pascal for a long time and I obviously never intended that to happen."
The suspension is the second of Sutton's career. He was banned for four games in October, 2005 for delivering a blow to the head of Toronto's Darcy Tucker. Sutton, then with the Thrashers, slammed Tucker's face into the boards and received a 10-minute misconduct for attempt to injure and a match penalty. Tucker needed 20 stitches to close a cut above his left eye.
Sutton will be eligible to return from his current suspension on Jan. 26 against Washington.
