Jets' Dillon suspended 3 games for headshot on Pens' Acciari
Winnipeg Jets defenseman Brenden Dillon will sit out three games for a hit to Pittsburgh Penguins forward Noel Acciari's head during Tuesday's game, the NHL's Department of Player Safety announced Wednesday.
Dillon caught Acciari up high against the glass early in the second period. The hit knocked Acciari's helmet off.
Brenden Dillon is assessed a match penalty for an illegal check to the head on Noel Acciari and is done for the night.
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) February 7, 2024
Acciari skated off with help from teammates and headed to the Penguins' locker room to get checked. pic.twitter.com/Z7aBfUji3k
The officials gave Dillon a match penalty, which included a five-minute major.
Pittsburgh later ruled Acciari out for the rest of the game. Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan updated his forward's status postgame.
"He's doing OK but being evaluated right now," the bench boss said. "We'll allow the league to go through their process like they always do. At the end of the day, our opinions don't really matter. Our major concern is Noel and his health, and he seems to be doing OK."
Dillon had been suspended once previously in his career, serving one game for slashing in 2017.