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Updated: NHL suspends Thornton 15 games for Orpik attack

BrooksOrpik

After a week long wait and an in-person hearing, NHL disciplinarian Brendan Shanahan has decided to hand Boston Bruins forward Shawn Thornton a 15-game suspension for knocking Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Brooks Orpik to the ice and punching him in the head during Boston’s 3-2 win on Dec. 7, according to TSN’s Darren Dreger.

Update (4:05 p.m. ET): The length has been confirmed.

Thornton was pulled off of Orpik and handed a match penalty while Orpik was taken off the ice on a stretcher. Orpik suffered a concussion and didn’t skate again until Friday.

Before that incident, Orpik delivered an open-ice hit on Loui Eriksson. The Boston Bruins forward suffered his second concussion in as many months as a result.

Thornton’s suspension is the second longest of the Shanahan-era, behind only Raffi Torres. This is also the biggest punishment he’s given for a regular season incident. He will be eligible to return for Boston’s game against San Jose on Jan. 11.

Shanahan argued that Thornton’s actions were not spontaneous, but rather an “act of retribution.”

Related:

Janssen: Orpik should’ve fought Thornton, then ‘everything would have quieted down’

Alfredsson: Players shouldn’t need to fight after dishing big hits

Crosby: If I had to guess Thornton’s suspension, I’d say 10 games

The Chip ‘n’ Chase: Outrage over hockey violence, Gary Bettman is a happy man, Darryl Sutter is awesome, and more!

Video: PHT Extra — are longer suspensions the answer?

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