San Jose forward Raffi Torres was suspended for the remainder of the Sharks’ second-round NHL playoff series against the Los Angeles Kings for a hit to the head of Kings forward Jarret Stoll.
Torres made the illegal hit in the second period of the Kings’ 2-0 victory in game one of the teams’ Western Conference second-round series on Tuesday.
He did not leave his feet, but he hit Stoll, who was leaning over, in the head.
Torres, who was assessed a minor penalty for charging on the play, is no stranger to being suspended. He received a 25-game ban, which was later reduced to 21, during last year’s Western Conference quarter-finals for a devastating hit on Chicago’s Marian Hossa.
The Kings hosted San Jose in game two on Thursday.
After the hit, Stoll missed the rest of the game and did not practise on Wednesday.
Kings coach Darryl Sutter described Stoll’s status as day-to-day, but hinted his availability for the rest of the series might be in doubt.
“The series (schedule) is, you play seven games in, what, (15) days?” Sutter said. “It makes it tough.”
Torres banned for rest of 2nd round for hit on Stoll
