Nazar Suspended Two Games for Illegal Check to Horvat's Head

Chicago forward Frank Nazar will sit out the Blackhawks' next two games after the NHL's Department of Player Safety suspended him without pay on Friday for an illegal check to the head on New York Islanders captain Bo Horvat.

The hit came with 1:35 remaining in the third period of Thursday's game at UBS Arena, won 4-1 by the Islanders. As Horvat sent the puck the length of the ice for an empty-net goal, Nazar caught him up high with his shoulder after the puck had left his stick. Officials assessed a five-minute match penalty, and a brawl broke out between the teams.

Under the collective bargaining agreement, Nazar will forfeit $68,041.14 in salary, with the money going to the Players' Emergency Assistance Fund. It is the first suspension of his NHL career, so the discipline was handled through a phone hearing, which capped the possible punishment at five games.

Nazar will miss Saturday's home game against Carolina and Tuesday's visit to Pittsburgh before becoming eligible to return on Thursday against Winnipeg. He has two goals and three points through five games, and Chicago has fallen to 1-4-0.

Horvat's condition is the bigger concern in New York. The Islanders captain scored twice in the win and leads the team with four goals, but he did not practice Friday and remains under evaluation. Head coach Pete DeBoer said the team had no update ahead of Saturday night's home game against Tampa Bay. Horvat was named captain in September.