Jared Cowen given three-game ban for late hit on Jussi Jokinen

Ottawa Senators defenseman Jared Cowen has earned a three-game holiday thanks to his high, late hit on Florida Panthers winger Jussi Jokinen.

Cowen was given a minor penalty for interference for the hit, which occurred in the Senators’ Saturday contest with the Panthers, but supplemental discipline was not levied until Monday morning following Cowen’s phone hearing with the league. You can watch the hit below:

Following the hit, Jokinen was prone on the ice for a few minutes while trainers attended to him. Though Jokinen remained in the game, his first shift following the hit was only 14 seconds.

Beyond the hit catching Jokinen up high, there was two full seconds between when he shuffled the puck off to Jimmy Hayes and when Cowen made contact with Jokinen. On the reverse look, it’s hard to tell where exactly Cowen’s shoulder catches Jokinen – whether it’s on the chin or right below it – but the blow caused Jokinen’s head to snap back.

Cowen was suspended two games in December of last season for a hit to the head of Buffalo’s Zemgus Girgensons. The three-game suspension is the second of Cowen’s 207-game NHL career