Justin Abdelkader suspended two games for hit in Saturday’s Game 3 against the Ducks

Local Sports Journal

Muskegon native Justin Abdlekader will sit out the next two games for the Detroit Red Wings after the National Hockey League handed down a suspension on Sunday.

Abdelkader was issued a major for charging and a game misconduct for a hit on Anaheim’s Toni Lydman during the game.

According to CBS.com, Lydman is suffering from a sore neck and migraines and his status for Monday’s Game 4 is not known.

“Abdlekader skates a considerable distance and elevates to violently check Lydman, making significant head contact,” said Brendan Shanahan in the NHL’s video explanation.

“Abdlekader elevates at contact, turning what could have been a hard, full body check into a high, violent check with significant contact to the head that caused an injury.”

For Abdelkader, it is the first time in his NHL career he has been suspended.

In 48 regular-season games, he had 10 goals and in three playoff games, he has one goal.

The Red Wings trail the best-of-seven series 2-1 in games.