The Washington Capitals have been without Mike Green for half the season because of injuries.
By Nick Wass, AP
Capitals defenseman Mike Green received the second three-game suspension of his career on Friday.
They'll have to do without him for three more games.
The NHL suspended the defenseman that amount for his hit Thursday night on Tampa Bay Lightning rookie Brett Connolly.
Capitals defenseman Dmitry Orlov had Connolly pinned against the boards when Green also skated in and hit the forward with his left arm, making contact with his head. Connolly was shaken up but eventually returned to the game.
"While it's true that Connolly is in a bent-over position as a result of trying to avoid Orlov's check," Shanahan said in his explanatory video, "Connolly does not put himself in this position just prior to or simultaneous with Green's hit. In fact, when Green decides to commit to this check, Connolly is already bent over.
"Green sees Connolly in this position. He then slows down, waits, loads up and targets Connolly's head, making it the principal point of contact."
Green was suspended for three games in January 2010 for an elbow to the head of Michael Frolik, who was with the Florida Panthers at the time. Shanahan factored that and a previous fine to Green into his decision.
Green, whose suspension matches the number of games given to Capitals star Alex Ovechkin before the All-Star break, will lose $85,135.14 in pay. He can return on March 16.
He has been limited to 20 games this season because of a groin muscle injury and has no points in 10 games since returning on Feb. 18.
Healthy scratches Roman Hamrlik or John Erskine could return to the lineup in Green's absence.
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