Blues' Maxim Lapierre suspended after big hit on Sharks' Boyle

NEW YORK, Oct. 16 (UPI) -- St. Louis Blues forward Maxim Lapierre was suspended Wednesday after sending San Jose's Dan Boyle to the hospital with devastating hit against the boards.

The NHL said Lapierre had been banned in anticipation of a disciplinary hearing, the date of which had yet to be determined.

The suspension came after Lapierre checked Boyle's face into the glass during the first period of Tuesday's 6-2 loss to San Jose in St. Louis.

Boyle crumpled to the ice after the hit, which triggered a brawl and resulted in Lapierre's ejection from the game. The San Jose player was removed from the ice on a stretcher and kept overnight at a St. Louis hospital.

The Sharks didn't release a medical update Wednesday but Boyle told the San Jose Mercury News in a text message he was "OK" and hopeful his symptoms would be minor.