Panthers' Kulikov suspended 2 games for hit on Sheary

Florida Panthers defenseman Dmitry Kulikov was handed a two-game suspension for his check to the head of Tampa Bay Lightning forward Conor Sheary on Saturday night, the NHL's Department of Player Safety announced Monday.

The officials handed Kulikov a match penalty for the hit, which negated a Panthers goal.

Mayhem ensues after Josh Mahura puts the loose puck into the empty net#TimeToHunt | #GoBolts pic.twitter.com/yaoE31ZGbE

- Hockey Daily 365 l NHL Highlights & News (@HockeyDaily365) March 16, 2024

Here's a closer look, which shows direct contact to the head:

Dmitry Kulikov gets a match penalty for an illegal check to the head AND Florida gets their goal waived off pic.twitter.com/Oba14JHo5B

- Gino Hard (@GinoHard_) March 16, 2024

Sheary was forced to exit his team's eventual 5-3 victory, though he's not expected to miss any further time.

This marks the second suspension of Kulikov's 15-year NHL career. He received a four-game ban for clipping back in 2015.

Kulikov has recorded 16 assists in 64 games this season while playing a bottom-pairing role.

The Panthers' defensive depth will be tested for their next two games - Thursday versus the Predators and Saturday against the Rangers. Tobias Bjornfot, who was claimed off waivers earlier this month, is in line to make his Panthers debut.

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