Winnipeg Jets’ defenseman Brenden Dillon was given a match penalty and a game misconduct for an illegal check to the head on Pittsburgh Penguins’ forward Noel Acciari Tuesday night.
The incident happened early in the second period when Acciari carried the puck through the neutral zone. As he chipped the puck into the Jets’ end, Dillon stepped up and made contact with Acciari’s head, causing the Penguin forward’s helmet to fly off and him to go down on the ice.
Acciari skated off the ice with the help of his teammates and went straight to the dressing room. The Penguins announced on social media that he would not return to the game.
Pittsburgh would take advantage of the five-minute power play, with Jeff Carter scoring his sixth of the season and Bryan Rust tallying his 12th just 90 seconds apart.
The Penguins lead 3-0 heading into the third period.
Going into the game, Acciari, 32, scored three goals and four points in 38 games with the Penguins this season. As for Dillon, 33, he has six goals and nine assists for 15 points and 60 penalty minutes through 47 games with the Jets.
Heading into Tuesday night, Pittsburgh were 22-17-7 with 51 points, fifth in the Metropolitan Division and five points behind the Philadelphia Flyers for the third divisional playoff spot.
Meanwhile, the Jets were 30-12-5 with 65 points, third in the Central Division but on a three-game losing streak coming out of the NHL All-Star break. They are currently three points behind the Colorado Avalanche for the division lead.
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