St. Louis Blues defenseman Robert Bortuzzo has been suspended for the final two preseason games and the regular-season opener for an elbow to the head of Washington Capitals defenseman Michal Kempny.
The NHL's department of player safety announced the suspension Thursday. Bortuzzo will miss exhibition games against Dallas and Washington and then the Blues' first regular-season game Oct. 4 against the Winnipeg Jets.
Kempny left the game and did not practice Thursday with his Capitals teammates. Coach Todd Reirden says Kempny is day-to-day with an upper-body injury that's suspected to be a concussion.
Bortuzzo forfeits $6,183 in salary as part of his second NHL suspension. He was last suspended in 2014 for a late, high hit on Jaromir Jagr.
The 29-year-old has also been fined twice in his 276-game career.
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