The NHL has suspended New York Rangers defenceman John Moore for five games without pay for an illegal hit to the head of Minnesota Wild forward Erik Haula.
The decision was handed out Wednesday by the league's Department of Player Safety following an in-person hearing with Moore, who is considered a repeat offender.
Moore was assessed a match penalty 7:12 into the second period of Monday night's game when he delivered a shoulder to Haula's head in the New York zone after Haula shot the puck.
Moore was suspended for two games in last season's Eastern Conference finals when he landed a similar hit to the head of Montreal forward Dale Weise in Game 5.
Under terms of the collective bargaining agreement, Moore will lose $51,859.75 in salary that will go to the Players' Emergency Assistance Fund.