Derek Mackenzie suspended three games for hit on Coyotes’ Oliver Ekman-Larsson
Jan 3, 2014, 8:01 PM | Updated: 8:02 pm
The Columbus Blue Jackets will be without the services of center Derek MacKenzie for three games after he was suspended for boarding Phoenix Coyotes defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson.
MacKenzie boarded Ekman-Larsson with just over 11 minutes remaining in the first period. A video explanation said that MacKenzie’s hit was deemed worthy of a suspension because he drove through Ekman-Larsson’s back in an very unsafe manner.
OEL was injured on the play and didn’t return to the game. Head coach Dave Tippett said the young Swedish star is considered day-to-day with an upper body injury (no surprise given the force of the hit) and is questionable for Saturday’s clash with the Philadelphia Flyers in Glendale.
