Thomas Pock’s elbow to Ryan Shannon’s head on Thursday night will cost the Islanders defenseman five games, the league announced yesterday.
Pock, who received a five-minute major and a game misconduct on the play in the Isles’ 3-1 win in Ottawa, will begin his suspension tonight and will be eligible to return to the lineup on Nov. 26, against the Penguins.
He will not appeal the ruling and will be replaced by Radek Martinek, who was activated from injured reserve yesterday. Martinek has played in just two games, because of a shoulder injury before tonight’s match against the Senators at the Nassau Coliseum.
“I understand why there is a need for the league to enforce a strict policy to hits to the head. I have reached out to Ryan to apologize and I hope he makes a quick recovery,” Pock said in a statement.
The NHL has kept a closer eye on hits such as the one Pock leveled Shannon with this season.
“We understand the league’s position in respect to cracking down on hits to the head and we agree with their objectives,” general manager Garth Snow said. “It was an unfortunate incident and we hope Ryan can return to the ice quickly.”
Pock, who played against Shannon while the two were in college, apologized for the hit after the game saying he didn’t mean to hit him like that. Pock said the hit was “a bad play.” The Isles enter tonight’s game with the fewest points in the Eastern Conference and are looking to win two in a row for just the second time this season.