The National Hockey League’s Department of Player Safety decided early Wednesday that Vancouver Canucks’ forward Jake Virtanen would be suspended, without pay, for two games for interference against San Jose Sharks defenseman Roman Polak. The incident occurred in-game between the Canucks and Sharks on Tuesday, March 29th. About two minutes into the second period, Sharks’ Roman Polak was breaking out of his defensive zone. After making a pass to a teammate, Polak continued to make another stride before being hit up high by a streaking Virtanen. Polak was not injured and would go on to play in the rest of the game, but Virtanen received a five minute major penalty for interference and a game misconduct. The puck had already left Polak’s stick and was long enough gone, for the hit to be considered interference by the Department of Player Safety.
Under the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, Jake Virtanen will forfeit $9,614,70 of his salary, the money going to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.
The Vancouver Canucks have six total games remaining, so Virtanen will miss Thursday’s rematch against the Sharks as well as Friday’s against the Anaheim Ducks. He will be making his return on Monday, April 4th, against the Los Angeles Kings. Virtanen has 13 points in 51 games played this season.
Main Photo Credit:
Main Photo Caption: SAN JOSE, CA – MARCH 5: Jake Virtanen #18 of the Vancouver Canucks skates after the puck against the San Jose Sharks at SAP Center on March 5, 2016 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Rocky W. Widner/NHL/Getty Images)
