St. Louis Blues' Sammy Blais gets two-game suspension for illegal check to head

NEW YORK (AP) — St. Louis Blues forward Sammy Blais was suspended for two games without pay by the NHL on Thursday for an illegal check to the head of Colorado Avalanche defenseman Devon Toews.

Blais received a minor penalty for elbowing in first-period incident in the Blues' 4-1 victory at Colorado on Wednesday night in the opener for both teams.

Blais' shoulder makes direct contact with the jaw of Toews and makes very little contact with the rest of Toews' body," the NHL said in a video.

The suspension, the first disciplinary action of Blais' career, will cost him $25,862. He had six goals and seven assists in 40 games last season.