NEW YORK (AP) – The NHL has suspended St. Louis Blues forward Ryan Reaves for three games without pay for a blindside hit into the boards that injured San Jose defenseman Matt Tennyson.

The punishment announced by the NHL’s department of player safety on Wednesday will cost Reaves more than $18,000 in salary. The hit occurred in the first period of the Sharks 6-3 win on Monday.

Tennyson had chased down the puck at the end boards and had his back to Reaves when he was checked from behind. Reaves was issued a major penalty for boarding and a game misconduct.

The league ruled Reaves made no effort to slow down or avoid the hit, and that Tennyson was injured on the play. It also noted that Reaves had been disciplined once before.