Kurtis MacDermid suspended two games for illegal check

The Los Angeles Kings will be without big defenseman Kurtis MacDermid for the next couple of matchups after the Department of Player Safety handed out a two-game suspension on Friday. MacDermid was given the ban after an illegal check to the head of Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Ivan Provorov earlier this week. As the accompanying video explains:

"On this hit, it is clear to us that while MacDermid may make glancing contact with Provorov’s shoulder, Provorov’s head absorbs the brunt of the impact and is therefore the main point of contact. It is also important to note that the head contact on this play is avoidable. Rule 48 does provide situations where head contact on a body check may be excused. None of these exemptions apply on this hit."

The check was not penalized by the on-ice officials, but Provorov did not suffer an injury on the play. Both of those things come into play in the decision, along with MacDermid’s clean history of supplemental discipline. That history only covers 71 games of NHL action, and it will now be marred by this incident. Any future discipline will be increased because of it.

MacDermid will miss games against the Nashville Predators and Columbus Blue Jackets, and he is eligible to return for the Kings’ game against the Dallas Stars on January 8.