Ottawa Senators forward Hayden Hodgson has been suspended two games for charging and boarding Los Angeles Kings defenseman Brandt Clarke. The NHL's Department of Player Safety announced the ruling Friday after holding a disciplinary hearing with Hodgson.
The 30-year-old, playing his 24th game in the league, lined up Clarke from several strides away and drove his opponent's head into the glass midway through Thursday night's game in Los Angeles. Hodgson was given a five-minute major penalty for boarding and ejected with a game misconduct. Clarke did not return to the game but was on the ice for practice Friday.
This is not Hodgson's first disciplinary issue. He was fined $2,018, the maximum allowed under the terms of the collective bargaining agreement, in October 2025 for boarding Montreal's Alex Newhook in a preseason game. He also has a long history of suspensions in the American Hockey League, totaling 20 games, for elbowing and other offenses over the past five seasons.
As a result of the suspension, Hodgson will forfeit $8,763 in salary. He will miss games Saturday at San Jose and Sunday at Anaheim and is eligible to return Wednesday at Buffalo. The Senators recalled wingers Xavier Bourgault and Philip Tomasino from Belleville of the AHL.
Source: ESPN NHL · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing