Avalanche’s Stienburg suspended two games for charging Lightning’s Cernak

Colorado Avalanche forward Matt Stienburg has been suspended two games for charging Tampa Bay Lightning defenceman Erik Cernak, the NHL’s department of player safety announced Thursday.

The incident occurred with just under three minutes left in the second period of Tampa Bay’s 5-2 win over Colorado on Wednesday night. Stienburg left his feet on the hit, making “significant contact with Cernak’s head” and sending the defenceman into the boards.

He was immediately given a five-minute major and game misconduct, ejecting him from the game.

Cernak left the game as well after the play. Lightning head coach Jon Cooper did not provide an update on the defenceman’s status after the game.

Stienburg, 24, is playing his first season in the NHL. In eight games, the Halifax native has yet to record a point and has 22 penalty minutes.

He’s set to miss games against the Nashville Predators on Saturday and Seattle Kraken next Tuesday.