Buffalo Sabres forward Jeff Skinner suspended three games for cross-checking

Buffalo Sabres forward Jeff Skinner has been suspended three games for cross-checking Pittsburgh Penguins forward Jake Guentzel, the NHL’s Department of Player Safety announced Saturday.

Skinner was assessed a match penalty for cross-checking Guentzel in the face during Friday’s 4–3 Penguins overtime win over the Sabres at KeyBank Center. Guentzel and Skinner also received minor penalties for slashing on the play.

The incident occurred in the final seconds of the third period on Friday. Skinner will forfeit $145,945.95 — which will go to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund — while serving his suspension.

Skinner, 30, has been suspended once before in his 880-game NHL career. Before being ejected, he scored his 13th goal of the season in the second period of Friday’s contest.

In 27 games with the Sabres this season, Skinner has 13 goals and 32 points. He’s currently in the fourth season of the eight-year, $9 million AAV contract he signed with the Sabres back in 2019.

A bloodied Guentzel briefly went to the locker room after being cross-checked by Skinner but returned to serve his slashing penalty to start overtime. Guentzel opened the scoring for Pittsburgh in the first period of Friday’s contest.

Jeff Carter ultimately scored in overtime to win the game for the Penguins. Buffalo fell to 12–13–2 with the loss; Pittsburgh improved to 15–8–4 with the victory.

Skinner will begin serving his suspension as the Sabres take on the Penguins once again — this time at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh — on Saturday.