Coyotes' Zucker suspended 3 games for boarding Cousins

Arizona Coyotes winger Jason Zucker will sit out three games for boarding Florida Panthers forward Nick Cousins, the NHL Department of Player Safety announced Wednesday.

Zucker was ejected from Tuesday's game for the play. He was taking exception to Cousins hitting his Coyotes teammate Juuso Valimaki while Valimaki was on his knees and defenseless, and Zucker plastered Cousins into the boards from behind. Panthers blue-liner Gustav Forsling then fought Zucker.

Cousins wasn't penalized for his hit on Valimaki and the league didn't schedule a hearing for the Panthers forward.

Zucker had never been fined or suspended previously in his 13-year NHL career.

The incident occurred in the final minute of the second period. Cousins only played one shift in the third frame and is currently in concussion protocol.