Los Angeles' Kyle Clifford will miss at least the next game, and Vancouver's Byron Bitz was ordered to sit out two.
By Jim Mone, AP
Vancouver Canucks Byron Bitz will sit out Games 2 and 3 against the Los Angeles Kings.
Bitz was suspended for two games Thursday by the NHL for boarding the Kings forward on Wednesday.
The play occurred at 12:12 of the second period of the Kings' 4-2 win against the Canucks. Bitz was ejected.
"Bitz sees Clifford's back and numbers throughout his approach to this check and has ample time to make a different play," NHL disciplinarian Brendan Shanahan said his explanatory video.
Shanahan added that even Clifford was playing a puck in his feet, he didn't make a sudden move that made the hit more dangerous.
"Having approached Clifford from quite a distance, Bitz follows through on his check, hitting Clifford on the shoulder and head with significant force, causing an injury," Shanahan said.
Clifford left the game and was ruled out of Game 2, the Kings said. He's day-to-day with an upper-body injury.
It was the first time that Bitz has been disciplined in his three-year career.
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