Sharks' Center Suspended 2 Games For High Stick

The San Jose Sharks will be without one of their best players for the next two games as Tomas Hertl has been suspended two games for a high stick on Calgary Flames' Elias Lindholm.

Hertl received a 2 minute high sticking penalty during the game and Lindholm scored a goal on that power play just 10 seconds later. He then added another goal 19 seconds after that one to put the game away for the Flames. Hertl did manage to score a power-play goal of his own later in the game for the Sharks' second goal, but it wasn't enough.

Postgame, Hertl commented on the incident saying, "I get frustrated...three times to the shoulder, I just tried to slash him on the stick. The stick flew a little high; it's a terrible penalty. I don't think I even had him close to the face, but it looks bad. A mistake by me - can't do that. You never try to hit a guy high, but it happens."

Hertl has the most points (32) and third-most goals (11) among Sharks' forwards this season. He will miss the team's next two games against the Flames and Minnesota Wild, taking him out of action until after the Christmas break. He will be eligible to return on December 27 against the Vancouver Canucks.