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Dallas Stars’ Antoine Roussel Suspended Two Games for Cross-Checking Adam McQuaid

The NHL Department of Player Safety has announced that Dallas Stars winger Antoine Roussel has been suspended two games for his cross-check to the neck of Boston’s Adam McQuaid on Tuesday night.

The incident occurred in the opening minutes of the game, when McQuaid appeared ready to drop the gloves to fight after an attempted hit along the boards. In the ensuing collision, Roussel got his hands and stick up high and caught McQuaid with a dangerous cross-check to the neck.

Roussel was previously fined for a “sucker punch” on Justin Braun of the Sharks back in November, and will now have to sit two games for this transgression.

Given that Roussel missed most of the game, and McQuaid was not injured, this seems to be a fair but strict punishment for what could have been a very dangerous play.

The Stars called up Curtis McKenzie on Wednesday, likely in anticipation of the suspension. McKenzie was playing on the third line in Roussel’s spot at practice on Thursday.

Here is the video from the DoPS:

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