You Judge the Suspension: Andy Sutton on Pascal Dupuis

In NHL FanHouse's first-ever installment of You Judge the Suspension, we present a hit by Andy Sutton on Pascal Dupuis at the Igloo on Tuesday.

UPDATE: Andy Sutton has been suspended two game by the NHL for the hit.

With just under three minutes remaining and the Islanders trailing the Penguins 5-4, Sutton nailed the Penguins forward with a hit from behind. Dupuis crashed head-first into the end boards behind the Islanders' goal, fell to the ice and began bleeding immediately. He also may have suffered a concussion. The damage was so apparent and severe that veteran Islanders goaltender Dwayne Roloson immediately waved for and then escorted Pittsburgh trainer Chris Stewart to attend to Dupuis.

Sutton showed remorse after the game for his hit on Dupuis, a friend from their time together in the Minnesota Wild organization. The 6-6 defenseman, who has thrown several big bodychecks this season, has only one previous suspension. Since it was in March of 2005 -- a hit on Darcy Tucker -- the NHL will not view Sutton as a repeat offender. The Islanders were down by just one goal in the final minutes, there is little case for Sutton having intent to injure.

Still, there is no denying the hit from behind, or the damage suffered by Dupuis. After the game, the Penguins said he suffered a "facial injury." Sutton received a five-minute boarding penalty and a game misconduct.

Chris Botta's View: The five-minute major and game misconduct -- essentially ending the Islanders' chance to come back (they lost 6-4) -- was fair and enough. Sutton should be fined and listed in supplementary czar Colin Campbell's book as a first offender, so another below-the-line hit will lead to a suspension. That's my view. It certainly would not be a shock if the league sits Sutton for two games.

One interesting subplot. The Islanders' next game is on Thursday against the Florida Panthers. Campbell's son Gregory is a forward for the Panthers. The Islanders and Florida are battling for playoff berths in the Eastern Conference. NHL hockey operations VP Mike Murphy could step in and make a ruling on Sutton.

Adam Gretz's View: Sutton was indeed remorseful after the game saying, "Obviously it wasn't clean." I don't think he was purposely trying to injure Dupuis or send him face-first through the boards, especially given the situation in the game, but that's still an extremely dangerous play.

The five-minute and the game misconduct was enough for Tuesday, but I think his name is going to come up on the Wheel of Discipline this week and cost him at least one game.