Wild F Staubitz suspended 3 regular-season games

The NHL hit Minnesota Wild forward Brad Staubitz hard, suspending him for the rest of the preseason and the first three regular-season games for an illegal check on Columbus' Cody Bass from behind. Brendan Shanahan, the league's new senior vice president of player safety, handed down the punishment on Monday for Staubitz's hit against Bass in a game on Friday. Bass was injured when Staubitz hit him and sent him into the glass. Staubitz, who was given a major penalty and game misconduct for checking from behind, will lose $9,324.33 for the suspension and not be eligible to return until Oct. 13 when the Wild host Edmonton.