The NHL suspended Washington Capitals forward Nicolas Aube-Kubel for three games for an illegal hit to the head on Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Cal Foote Friday. The suspension got handed down after Aube-Kubel’s hearing Saturday with the NHL Department of Player Safety.
Foote passed the puck past the blue line before Aube-Kubel hit Foote square on the chin with his shoulder. Foote spun around before crashing face-first on the ice.
Aube-Kubel got ejected from the game for the hit. Foote was left bloodied.
Aube-Kubel will miss the Capitals’ game Sunday at Tampa Bay, at the Florida Panthers on Tuesday, and at the St. Louis Blues on Thursday. He will forfeit $16,216.23 in salary during his suspension.
Additionally, Lightning defenseman Pat Maroon was fined $2,702.70 and Capitals forward Garnet Hathaway $4,054.45 for unsportsmanlike conduct. The two opponents fought during an official review of Aube-Kubel’s hit.
Maroon and Hathaway each received five-minute penalties for fighting and 10 minutes for misconduct during the game.
