NHL suspends Rome for rest of playoffs

BOSTON, June 7 (UPI) -- Aaron Rome, the Vancouver defenseman who blindsided Boston's Nathan Horton, has been barred from the rest of the Stanley Cup playoffs, the NHL said Tuesday.

Rome checked Horton, who had just passed the puck, hard near the Vancouver blue line during the first period of Monday's Stanley Cup series game in Boston. Horton dropped to the ice and was later carried off on a stretcher.

Team officials said he suffered a severe concussion and will miss the rest of the series.

Game officials handed Rome a 5-minute penalty for interference and a game misconduct. NHL officials Tuesday extended the penalty to a four-game suspension. If the Stanley Cup finals end in less than seven games, Rome would serve any remaining games of the suspension next season.

"Two factors were considered in reaching this decision," NHL Senior Vice President of Hockey Operations Mike Murphy said in a statement. "The hit by Rome was clearly beyond what is acceptable in terms of how late it was delivered after Horton had released the puck and it caused a significant injury."

Boston won Monday's game 8-1 but Vancouver leads the best-of-seven series 2-1. Game 4 is scheduled for Wednesday in Boston.