Jets’ Brenden Dillon suspended three games for illegal check to the head of Penguins’ Noel Acciari

The National Hockey League’s Department of Player Safety announced today that Winnipeg Jets defenseman Brenden Dillon will be suspended three games for an illegal check to the head to forward Noel Acciari that occurred in Tuesday night’s game against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Dillon was given a match penalty and a game misconduct for the hit and ejected.

Considering the hearing was a phone hearing, not an in-person one, it meant that any suspension Dillon could be handed would be for five or fewer games. Ultimately DPOS opted for three games.

Dillon will be able to return to the Jets lineup on Saturday, Feb. 17 against the Vancouver Canucks.

The incident happened early in the second period when Acciari carried the puck through the neutral zone. As he chipped the puck into the Jets’ end, Dillon stepped up and made contact with Acciari’s head, causing the forward’s helmet to fly off and him to go down on the ice. Penguins teammates helped Acciari off the ice and down to the locker room.

Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan provided a post-game update on Acciari’s status, “He’s doing OK but being evaluated right now.”

The Penguins would take full advantage of the ensuing 5-minute powerplay with veteran Jeff Carter scoring his sixth of the season and Bryan Rust tallying his 12th just 90 seconds apart.

The 33-year-old defenseman has six goals and nine assists for 15 points and 60 penalty minutes through 47 games with the Jets this season.

Meanwhile, the Jets sit third in the Central Division with a record of 30-13-5 with 65 points. They are currently three points behind the Colorado Avalanche for the division lead. Winnipeg is set to face off against the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday and then a rematch on Saturday against the Penguins.