BOSTON -- Colorado Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog was assessed a match penalty and ejected from Thursday's game for his illegal hit to the head of Bruins forward Brad Marchand.
"I came in as a late backchecker, and he takes his shot," Landeskog said. "Obviously he's in a vulnerable position, and I hit his shoulder first. I'm happy he wasn't hurt."
Landeskog is automatically suspended, pending an NHL review, for the Avalanche's next game Saturday at Montreal as part of the match penalty.
Marchand said he never saw the hit coming.