Photo: CBC

The NHL announced on Friday evening that Dallas Stars forward Corey Perry has been suspended five games by the league’s Department of Player Safety for elbowing Nashville Predators defenseman Ryan Ellis in the head during the 2020 NHL Winter Classic at the Cotton Bowl on Wednesday. He will also lose $40,3222.60.

Dallas’ Corey Perry has been suspended for five games for Elbowing Nashville’s Ryan Ellis. https://t.co/X7wuSPXpKa

— NHL Player Safety (@NHLPlayerSafety) January 3, 2020

The 34-year old was given a five-minute game misconduct for the hit, which occurred 2:40 into the Winter Classic. Ellis did not return to the game and was placed on injured reserve by the Predators on Friday.

Perry, who became the first player in NHL history to be tossed from the Winter Classic, said that the hit was “very unintentional.” This is his third suspension in his NHL career.

The Stars played their first game without Perry on Friday against the Detroit Red Wings. He was scheduled to return to Honda Center on Wednesday for the first time since the Anaheim Ducks bought out the final two years of his eight-year contract that carried an annual average value of $8,625,000 on June 19 but will now miss the game. Perry spent the first 14 years of his NHL career with the Ducks. The Stars visit the Ducks again on April 1.

Perry has recorded three goals, 13 points, and an even rating in 34 games during his first season in Dallas, who signed him to a one-year contract worth $1.5 million on July 1.

By Harrison Brown