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Sabres’ Scott suspended seven games for Eriksson headshot

JohnScott

Buffalo Sabres forward John Scott has been suspended seven games for his illegal check to the head of Boston’s Loui Eriksson, the NHL has announced.

Scott, 31, was suspended indefinitely pending his in-person hearing with the NHL’s Department of Player Safety, a meeting that took place today. As such, he’s already served three of his seven games and will miss a fourth tonight as the Sabres take on the Rangers in New York.

“Scott cuts across Eriksson and delivers and delivers a shoulder to Eriksson’s head, making it the main point of contact and causing a serious injury,” NHL discipline czar Brendan Shanahan explained. “Although Eriksson is eligible to be checked on this play, he is not eligible to be checked in this fashion.”

Shanahan also said it was “important” to note the onus of the hit -- and subsequent injury -- landed solely on Scott, as Eriksson made no late movements or shifts to play into the contact.

Here’s the video:

Also worth noting that Shanahan threw out the “headshot because he’s tall defense,” on the grounds that Scott has recorded over 200 hits in his NHL career, and hasn’t faced supplemental discipline for any of them.

Translation: Despite being 6-foot-8, Scott knows how to hit people legally.

Scott will forfeit $26,923.05 in salary to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund. He is eligible to return to action on Friday, Nov. 8 when the Sabres play in Anaheim against the Ducks.