Hodgson Handed Two-Game Ban for Boarding Clarke

The NHL has suspended Hayden Hodgson for two games for boarding Brandt Clarke, handing down the punishment in its latest round of player-safety decisions. The suspension was confirmed in the league's disciplinary update carried on Friday, with Hodgson set to miss his team's next two games as a result of the incident. Boarding, one of the most dangerous plays in the game, is punished severely because of the risk it poses when a player is driven into the boards from behind and unable to protect himself. The two-game ban reflects the league's continued focus on player safety and its willingness to act on hits that endanger opponents along the boards. Hodgson's absence will force his team to shuffle its lines for the next two fixtures, while Clarke and his club will hope the incident does not lead to any lingering effects. The suspension was one of several disciplinary and injury updates around the league on Friday, alongside the news that Nikita Kucherov has requested a trade from Tampa Bay and that Josh Manson will miss eight weeks with an ankle injury. For Hodgson, the ban is a costly interruption at a stage of the season when every game carries weight in the standings.