NEW YORK — The NHL has suspended St. Louis Blues forward Ivan Barbashev for one game for an illegal check to the head of Boston Bruins forward Marcus Johansson during Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final.
The check occurred 5:24 into the first period of St. Louis' 2-1 victory Thursday night.
The 23-year-old Barbashev has played in each of the Blues' 24 playoff games this year. He has three goals and three assists in the postseason.
>> STANLEY CUP: Blues edge Bruins in Game 5
The NHL's department of player safety announced the suspension on Friday.
The Blues can clinch the franchise's first championship with a victory in Game 6 on Sunday night in St. Louis.
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