Kings' Tanner Jeannot suspended 3 games for hit to head

Los Angeles Kings forward Tanner Jeannot was assessed a three-game suspension Friday after an illegal check to the head of Vancouver Canucks forward Brock Boeser on Thursday night.

The NHL's discipline was handed down hours after Jeannot had a hearing with the league's Department of Player Safety.

Jeannot made contact with Boeser's chin with an open-ice hit midway through the first period of the Kings' 4-2 home loss. Boeser went to the locker room and was ruled out for the remainder of the game.

Jeannot's night was also over after being assessed with a match penalty, which triggered the automatic review by the league.

A player safety official said in an explanation video that both conditions of the penalty were satisfied: Boeser's head was the primary point of contact, and it was an avoidable play.

"If Jeannot wants to deliver this check, he must stay low and take an angle that hits through Boeser's shoulder and core, rather than one that makes the head the main point of contact," the official said.

Jeannot, who had only one previous fine and no suspensions in his career, will miss the Kings' home game against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday and a two-game road trip against the Calgary Flames and Colorado Avalanche on Monday and Wednesday.

Jeannot, 27, has one goal, one assist and a league-leading 36 penalty minutes through 15 games in his first season with Los Angeles.

He has 82 points (43 goals, 39 assists) and 350 penalty minutes in 242 games with the Nashville Predators, Tampa Bay Lightning and Kings since entering the league in the 2020-21 season.

--Field Level Media