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Jets' Byfuglien Suspended 4 Games For Hit To Head Of Rangers' Miller

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) — The NHL suspended Dustin Byfuglien of the Winnipeg Jets for four games without pay on Thursday for his cross-check to the head of New York Rangers center J.T. Miller.

The play occurred late in the second period of Winnipeg's 3-2 loss to New York on Tuesday night. Miller had fallen to the ice near the crease after taking a swipe at a rebound off the pads of Jets goalie Ondrej Pavelec.

Byfuglien drove his stick in to the back of the Rangers forward's head while falling to his knees. The league's video explanation of the suspension characterized the blow as "dangerous" and delivered with "excessive force."

Byfuglien will lose $111,827 in pay.

Winnipeg has lost its last two games and is tied with Los Angeles in the race for the Western Conference's second wild-card spot. Both teams have five games remaining in the regular season.

(TM and © Copyright 2015 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2015 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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