NHL suspends Panthers' Matheson for body slam

In the third period Saturday, Matheson checked Vancouver Canucks forward Elias
Pettersson into the boards, then slammed Pettersson into the ice. No penalty
was called on the ice in a game Vancouver won 3-2.

Pettersson, a rookie, wound up with a concussion, and he will miss at least
two games, Vancouver general manager Jim Benning told Sportsnet on Monday.

The NHL Department of Player Safety issued its decision after a hearing with
Matheson.

In a video explaining the ruling, a league spokesman said, "What causes this
incident to rise to the level of supplemental discipline is that it
encompasses two separate and distinct acts. First, Matheson pins Pettersson to
the boards in a legal and effective defensive maneuver. Then with the puck
long separated from the area, and Pettersson unable to defend himself,
Matheson drives him directly downward and into the ice with force, causing an
injury. ...

"Matheson intentionally slammed Pettersson directly to the ice intentionally
and dangerously. ... This is not a hockey play."

Matheson will lose $52,419.36 in salary due to the suspension, which will keep
him out of games at Philadelphia on Tuesday and at Washington on Friday. He
will be eligible to return when the Panthers play host to the Detroit Red
Wings on Saturday.

Matheson, 24, has no points and four penalty minutes through three games this
season. He is in his fourth year in the NHL, all with Florida.

Pettersson, 19, has five goals and three assists through his first five NHL
games. He was the fifth overall pick in the 2017 draft out of Sweden.

--Field Level Media