Canadiens' Cedric Paquette suspended 2 games for boarding Trevor Zegras
Teammate Cole Caufield sent to AHL affiliate after posting 1 point in 10 games
The NHL has suspended Montreal Canadiens forward Cedric Paquette two games without pay for boarding Anaheim Ducks forward Trevor Zegras.
Paquette, 28, was assessed a five-minute major penalty and game misconduct on Sunday for his hit on Zegras at 10:17 of the first period of the Canadiens' 4-2 loss to the Ducks.
Canadiens forward Cedric Paquette ejected (5 mins + game misconduct) for boarding Trevor Zegras. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GoHabsGo?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GoHabsGo</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FlyTogether?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FlyTogether</a> <a href="https://t.co/5sqVu8t25e">pic.twitter.com/5sqVu8t25e</a>
—@PuckReportNHLZegras took issue with the hit and retaliated against Sonny Milano, earning a roughing minor in the ensuing scrum.
Paquette will forfeit $9,500 US in salary. He will be eligible to return when Montreal hosts the Vegas Golden Knights on Saturday.
Paquette has yet to record a point in eight games this season. He has 51 goals and 93 points in 432 NHL regular-season games with the Tampa Bay Lightning, Ottawa Senators, Carolina Hurricanes and Canadiens.
WATCH | Getzlaf sets Ducks' points record in win over Canadiens:
Struggling Caufield shipped to AHL
Also Monday, the Canadiens sent Cole Caufield to their American Hockey League affiliate in Laval, Que., in hopes the promising forward can rediscover his scoring touch.
The 20-year-old has just one assist through 10 games for the Canadiens, who are off to a dismal 2-8-0 start to the season just months after appearing in the 2021 Stanley Cup final.
Caufield's struggles this season stand in marked contrast to his bursting on the NHL scene in 2020-21.
Caufield won the Hobey Baker Award as the top player in NCAA hockey last season after posting 30 goals and 52 points for the University of Wisconsin.
He then made good on the hype surrounding the start to his professional career, posting three goals and an assist in two games with the AHL's Rocket before adding four goals and five points in 10 games with Montreal.
Caufield impressed further with four goals and 12 points in 20 playoff contests as the Canadiens advanced to the Stanley Cup final for the first time since 1993 before losing to defending champion Tampa Bay.
In a corresponding move Monday, Montreal recalled forward Michael Pezzetta from Laval after he posted six points in eight games.
With files from Field Level Media
