Predators' Smith receives match penalty for hit on Sharks' Dellandrea

Nashville Predators forward Cole Smith was handed a match penalty for an illegal check to the head of San Jose Sharks forward Ty Dellandrea on Thursday night.

The NHL rulebook states that "a match penalty shall be imposed on any player who deliberately attempts to injure or who deliberately injures an opponent in any manner."

Dellandrea exited the ice and was eventually ruled out for the remainder of the game with an upper-body injury.

Smith has never been suspended in his five-year NHL career.