Leafs' Kerfoot suspended 2 games for boarding Avs' Johnson

Toronto Maple Leafs forward Alex Kerfoot has been handed a two-game ban for his hit on Colorado Avalanche defenseman Erik Johnson, the NHL's Department of Player Safety announced Monday.

The incident occurred in the second period of Saturday's contest. Johnson remained in the game and Kerfoot was handed a two-minute minor for boarding.

The suspension is Kerfoot's first in his 179-game NHL career.

The 25-year-old was playing his former team when the infraction occurred after being traded from Colorado to Toronto in July.

"First and foremost, I think I'm disappointed in myself," Kerfoot said Monday, according to TSN. "It was obviously a bad play. I know Johnson well and I just hope he's alright, I hope that he doesn't miss any time or anything like that. I feel terrible.

“He kind of unfortunately lost possession right as I was pushing him and then he stumbles and I pushed him into the boards. It's no excuse. It was unfortunate timing but it was also a bad play by me and I just hope he's alright.”

Kerfoot has tallied five goals and eight points in 22 games during his first season with the Maple Leafs.

The 5-foot-10 pivot will be eligible to return in the latter contest of a home-and-home series with the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday.