Dallas Stars F Cody Eakin suspended four games

Dallas Stars forward Cody Eakin was suspended for four games, without pay, for charging New York Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist during Thursday's game, the NHL announced Friday.

The incident occurred at 9:19 of the first period. Eakin was assessed a major penalty for charging and a game misconduct at the time. The blow knocked Lundqvist's helmet off and left him sprawling on the ice.

"First thing is the league better do something about that hit," Rangers coach Alain Vigneault said after the game, according to the New York Post. "It's everything you want to take away from the game."

Lundqvist left the ice after the hit but returned about five minutes later and completed a 2-0 shutout.

"I was coming in pretty fast, trying to create some energy, and my intention was to go for the puck," Eakin said, according to the Dallas Morning News. "Obviously, it was not to make contact with him or his head."

Under the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement and, based on his average annual salary, Eakin will forfeit $85,555.56.