NHL suspends Ryan Suter two games for dirty hit

By Josh Hill | Jan 14, 2015

Jan 2, 2015; Saint Paul, MN, USA; Minnesota Wild defenseman Ryan Suter (20) passes 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 /

The Minnesota Wild are sinking in the West, and losing superstar defenseman Ryan Suter will not help matter any.

After acquiring a goalie to try and clamp the defensive bleeding that has been going on, the Minnesota Wild have lost a vital part of their defense in the suspension of Ryan Suter. The NHL has deemed Suter’s hit on Steve Downie was dirty, as the Wild defenseman has been suspended by the league for two games.

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According to Wild beat writer Michael Russo from the Star Tribune, the NHL has suspended Ryan Suter two games for throwing an elbow at Pittsburgh Penguins forward Steve Downie.

It’s a blow to the Wild that they can’t afford at a time in which they’re as desperate as they’ve ever been this season. The Wild are sinking fast in the Western Conference and their trade for netminder Devan Dubnyk is a clear move to try and weasel out of the ropes attached to the cinder blocks dragging them into the depths of the standings.

Losing Suter is going to hurt, but it’s just a two game ban that will see Suter back intake to start next week against the Blue Jackets. In the meantime though, he’s going to miss games against the Sabres and Coyotes — the latter of which is that annual Hockey Day in Minnesota.

But the Wild need Suter back of the last stretch of the season as once the calendar turns over to February, the team will have only a finite amount of time to turn things around before their season is considered nothing more than a wash.

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