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Ryan Suter gives Steve Downie a nasty elbow (GIF)

By Cory Buck

Jan 2, 2015; Saint Paul, MN, USA; Minnesota Wild defenseman Ryan Suter (20) skates with the puck in the second period against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Xcel Energy Center. The Minnesota Wild win 3-1. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 2, 2015; Saint Paul, MN, USA; Minnesota Wild defenseman Ryan Suter (20) skates with the puck in the second period against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Xcel Energy Center. The Minnesota Wild win 3-1. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports /
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Ryan Suter of the Minnesota Wild hit Pittsburgh Penguins forward Steve Downie with a nasty elbow.

The Minnesota Wild have enough trouble on their hands as they sit dead last in the Central Division after starting the season with high hopes and a promising roster. Much of that promise was due to the fact that the team employs one of the league’s best defenseman.

Ryan Suter has been a stud with top pairing minutes and a pillar for the Wild since his arrival, which could make the next few games even tougher for the defensively challenged Wild. Given the elbow he dished out to Pittsburgh Penguins forward Steve Downie, the team could be missing Suter for at least a game or two.

Yeesh. That’s not one of those ‘went for a hit and got a little high on the guy’ elbows or a matter of two guys moving fast in opposite directions. That’s just Suter reaching across the table and whacking Downie with an elbow.

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This does deserve the disclaimer that Suter has never been suspended, only tallied 34 penalty minutes last season, and is regarded as one of the cleanest players in the NHL. It’s almost shocking to see that much contact on a play like that because it just doesn’t seem like Ryan Suter at all.

Still, it’s an elbow going directly into a face so you can expect at least a big fine to hit Suter when he has his hearing on Wednesday.

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