NEW YORK, Oct. 18 (UPI) -- Phoenix Coyotes captain Shane Doan has been handed a three-game suspension for an illegal hit, NHL officials said Monday.
The hit came against forward Dan Sexton in Sunday's 3-2 Coyotes loss to the Anaheim Ducks. Officials said Doan delivered a hit to Sexton's head at 6:35 of the third period, although no penalty was issued.
"Doan delivered a late hit from the blind side to the head of an unsuspecting opponent," Colin Campbell, the NHL's executive vice president of hockey operations, said. "While it was fortunate that Sexton did not suffer an injury, the message should be clear that this is the type of hit that we want out of our game."
Doan was also involved in a play in the same game that resulted in a broken nose for Ducks defenseman and first-round draft choice Cam Fowler.
On the second-period play, the 18-year-old was checked heavily into the end boards by Doan after carrying the puck on an end-to-end rush. He was down on the ice for several moments before being helped to the dressing room.
Doan also was not penalized for that hit, which was judged to be legal.
