Nashville Predators D Anton Volchenkov Suspended 4 Games (Video)

Oct 31, 2014; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Calgary Flames left wing Curtis Glencross (20) and Nashville Predators defenseman Anton Volchenkov (20) fight for position during the first period at Scotiabank Saddledome. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 31, 2014; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Calgary Flames left wing Curtis Glencross (20) and Nashville Predators defenseman Anton Volchenkov (20) fight for position during the first period at Scotiabank Saddledome. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports /
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Defenseman Anton Volchenkov of the Nashville Predators has been suspended for four games by the NHL’s Department of Player Safety for an illegal check.

The Nashville Predators will be without defenseman Anton Volchenkov for four games, the NHL Department of Player Safety announced Sunday.

Volchenkov was suspended for four games and will forfeit a little more than $21,500 for an illegal check to the head of Calgary Flames forward Michael Ferland in Friday night’s game.

The video and the explanation for the suspension is below:

Volchenkov is not being treated as a repeat offender under the collective bargaining agreement, despite getting a four-game suspension two seasons ago for elbowing Boston Bruins forward Brad Marchand.

Volchenkov was not penalized Friday for the hit to Ferland’s head.

The penalty occurred late in the second period and cut short Ferland’s NHL debut for the Flames.

If four games seems a bit of a light tap on the wrist, the NHL couldn’t issue a suspension of longer than five games without offering Volchenkov an in-person hearing.

There were no suspensions in the preseason or the first two weeks of the season, but the action has apparently picked up in the last week—Volchenkov’s suspension is the fifth handed down by the league in the last seven days.

The 32-year-old Volchenkov has two assists and four minutes in penalties in 10 games this season for Nashville.

He is in his first season with the Predators after signing a one-year contract in July. He played his first seven NHL seasons with the Ottawa Senators and spent the last four seasons with the New Jersey Devils.

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