Florida Panthers forward Jesse Puljujarvi has been suspended two games for an illegal check to the head of Tampa Bay Lightning forward Mitchell Chaffee, the NHL Department of Player Safety announced Thursday.
The head was the main point of contact, and it was avoidable, the league said.
The suspension is the first of Puljujarvi's eight-year NHL career. He's played five games with the Panthers this season after the Pittsburgh Penguins released him in February.
Chaffee has tallied 12 goals and six assists in 66 games for the Lightning this season. He's considered day-to-day with an upper-body injury.
The Lightning and Panthers begin their Round 1 series Tuesday.
