NHL: Kostopoulos Suspended 6 Games for Head Shot on Red Wings' Brad Stuart

Optimistic estimates have Detroit Red Wings defenseman Brad Stuart returning to the team in six weeks.

Flames forward Tom Kostopoulos will not be playing for six games.

While the trade off is hardly equitable, the NHL has made a decision after Kostopoulos deliberately targeted Stuart's head in a game on January 7th, the hit breaking Stuart's jaw.

This is the third suspension of Kostopoulos' career and was all but expected immediately following the conclusion of Friday's game between the Flames and the Red Wings.

The NHL's Colin Campbell was quoted in a press release, stating:

"Kostopoulos delivered a blow to the head of an unsuspecting and vulnerable player. As well, he targeted the head of his opponent and, while the hit was not from the blindside, the head was the principle point of contact."

However, Kostopoulos has also released a statement, denying he did anything wrong or malicious: "I'm extremely disappointed in the League's ruling as I believe I have not done anything illegal. I'm sorry that Brad was hurt on the play and I hope he returns to play soon, but it was never my intention to injure him and I definitely did not target the head."

Regardless of his incredulity, Kostopoulos was quite clearly targeting Stuart's head at the time of the hit, providing the league and fans with a textbook example of the kind of hit the NHL is trying to get out of the game.

The loss of Stuart only compounds the challenge the Red Wings face to stay at the top of the Western Conference standings as they are also without forwards Pavel Datsyuk, Mike Modano, Dan Cleary and Valtteri Filppula.

Additionally, back-up goalie Chris Osgood may miss an extended period of time due to a groin issue.

Regardless of their depleted lineup, the Red Wings pulled out perhaps their grittiest win of the season on Saturday night against the league-leading Vancouver Canucks.

The Red Wings won 2-1 via the shootout and benefited from the superb performance of goalie Jimmy Howard.

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