Montreal Canadiens forward Paul Byron handed three-game suspension
NEW YORK — Montreal Canadiens forward Paul Byron has been suspended three games for a hit that injured Florida Panthers defenceman MacKenzie Weegar on Tuesday night.
Byron was given a minor penalty for charging on a check that left Weegar in concussion protocol during the second period of Montreal’s 5-1 win over the visiting Panthers.
In a video explaining the suspension, the NHL’s Department of Player Safety says “Byron launches himself excessively upwards coming off the ice to deliver the hit and in the process makes significant and forceful head contact.”
It marks the first suspension in Byron’s 397-game NHL career. Byron tweeted that he accepts and respects the department of player safety’s decision.