"Devils' F Paul Cotter Receives 2-Game Suspension for Head Check"

The National Hockey League's Department of Safety has suspended New Jersey Devils' forward Paul Cotter for two games after a hearing on Monday.

Cotter received a match penalty during Sunday's 1-0 loss to the New York Islanders for a hit to the head of Islanders' defenseman Adam Pelech.

Cotter was attempting to retrieve a stray pass from Pelech, who had flipped the puck back into the offensive zone. As Cotter skated through the play, his left shoulder made significant contact with Pelech's face and head.

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According to a Player Safety official in an explanation video, Cotter's hit violated the league's rule on checks to the head as Pelech's head was the main point of contact and the contact was avoidable.

The official stated, "Cotter took a poor angle of approach, choosing to cut across the front of Pelech's body, missing his core. He then raised his left leg and leaned into the contact, resulting in his shoulder making direct contact with Pelech's head with enough force for supplemental discipline."

As a result, Cotter will miss the final two regular-season games against the Boston Bruins and Detroit Red Wings. He will be eligible to return for the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs against the Carolina Hurricanes.

In his first season with the Devils, Cotter has recorded a career-high 16 goals and six assists in 79 games. He was traded to New Jersey last June after playing for the Vegas Golden Knights for three seasons, where he tallied 22 goals and 23 assists in 138 games.