Komarov apologized to McDonagh for elbow via text

Toronto Maple Leafs forward Leo Komarov was suspended three games for a elbow to the head of Ryan McDonagh, but the New York Rangers defenseman holds no ill will towards the fellow All-Star after receiving an apology - via text.

"(Komarov) did try to apologize during the game, but I was showering so we didn’t meet up," McDonagh told Larry Brooks from the New York Post on Monday. "But he did message me, so I was real appreciative of that."

The 26-year-old was playing in just his second game since returning from a concussion suffered on a punch from Wayne Simmonds of the Philadelphia Flyers. McDonagh avoided a concussion on the Komarov hit, but sat out Sunday's win against the Detroit Red Wings.

"It's an unfortunate hit, a play you want out of this league, like many guys have said," McDonagh added.

It's not the first time Komarov has had to apologize for a hit this season, following a sorry directed at Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Kris Letang for a dangerous hit from behind while they were in Nashville for All-Star Weekend.