VANCOUVER — Rookie Jake Virtanen was suspended for two games Wednesday for what the NHL’s department of player safety called a late, violent and predatory hit on San Jose Sharks’ defenceman Roman Polak.
Virtanen received a five-minute interference penalty and a game misconduct for the hit, which was delivered near centre ice two minutes into the second period of Tuesday’s game at Rogers Arena.
“What elevates this hit to supplemental discipline is its extreme lateness and the predatory nature of the hit,” the National Hockey League’s department of player safety said in a video explaining its decision.