Washington Capitals left winger Marcus Johansson has been suspended for two games for an illegal check to the head of New York Islanders defenseman Thomas Hickey, NHL Player Safety announced Friday.
The check came with 11 minutes, 21 seconds remaining in the first period of Washington's 4-1 victory Thursday. Hickey went to clear the puck from center ice, but Johansson leaned with his forearm and aimed toward Hickey's head.
Hickey told Isabelle Khurshudyan of the Washington Post that he thinks Johansson is an "honest player" and that the hit was "50 percent" his own fault.