Defenseman Erik Johnson, who leads the Avalanche in average ice time at 25:38 — 10th most among all NHL players — will serve a two-game suspension for boarding Tampa Bay’s Vladislav Namestnikov on Saturday night, the NHL Department of Player Safety ruled Sunday.
Johnson will sit out Monday’s game against the visiting Pittsburgh Penguins and Thursday’s game at the Los Angeles Kings. He has played in all 32 of Colorado’s games thus far.
Johnson is considered a repeat offender, having served a two-game suspension for slashing in February 2014. He declined comment after practice Sunday, before he had a telephone hearing with the league.
Colorado’s Erik Johnson suspended two games for boarding Tampa Bay’s Vladislav Namestnikov. https://t.co/lut25xraWy
— NHL Player Safety (@NHLPlayerSafety) December 18, 2017
