Spezza's suspension reduced to 4 games

Jason Spezza's suspension has been reduced to four games, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman announced Friday.

The Toronto Maple Leafs veteran was initially handed a six-game ban for kneeing Winnipeg Jets defenseman Neal Pionk. Although Spezza was deemed eligible to play in Toronto's Saturday game versus the Vancouver Canucks, he was added to the league's COVID-19 protocol late Friday.

Spezza had an in-person hearing for his hit and then appealed the league's decision. He has no prior suspensions in his 19-year career, which played a factor in Bettman's decision.

"In the unusual circumstances presented here, I believe that the conduct at issue was a serious, but isolated, aberration from Mr. Spezza's consistent style of play over nearly two decades and that a four-game suspension is sufficient to ensure that the conduct will not be repeated," Bettman wrote in a statement.

Before Spezza retaliated, Pionk kneed Maple Leafs defenseman Rasmus Sandin, resulting in a two-game suspension of his own. Pionk entered concussion protocol and missed three games in total before returning to the Jets' lineup.

Spezza has notched seven goals and four assists in 26 games for Toronto this season.

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