LOS ANGELES — St. Louis Blues forward Oskar Sundqvist will miss game three of the NHL Stanley Cup final as he serves a one-game suspension for a hit to the head of Boston's Matt Grzelcyk.

The NHL's department of player safety announced the suspension on Thursday after a hearing with Sundqvist, who was assessed a two-minute minor penalty for boarding for the hit which knocked Grzelcyk out of game two on Wednesday.

Grzelcyk was off balance trying to gain possession of the puck behind Boston's net when Sundqvist sent him crashing into the glass.

He crashed to the ice and was helped off after the hit with 2:06 remaining in the first period.

The NHL's Department of Player Safety said Sundqvist opted to "finish his check with force" even though he had time to adjust his path.

The Blues went on to win 3-2 in overtime and level the best-of-seven championship series at one game each.

Grzelcyk is day to day in concussion protocol and didn't travel with the Bruins to St. Louis for game three.

"St. Louis' Oskar Sundqvist has been suspended for one game for Boarding Boston's Matt Grzelcyk," the NHL's department of player safety announced. Sundqvist has four goals and five assists in 21 playoff games. — AFP