Avalanche’s Matt Stienburg suspended 2 games for charging

Colorado Avalanche rookie Matt Stienburg was suspended two games Thursday for charging defenseman Erik Cernak during Wednesday’s 5-2 home loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning.

The discipline was handed down after Stienburg had a hearing with the NHL Department of Player Safety, which determined that his hit was unnecessary and dangerous.

The forward left his feet and launched into Cernak along the boards after Cernak passed the puck to a teammate. Stienburg, 24, received a five-minute major and a game misconduct. Cernak left the game and did not return.

“… Stienburg elevates unnecessarily, turning his body and launching up and into a check that makes significant contact with Cernak’s head and is delivered with requisite force that merits supplemental discipline,” a player safety official said in an explanation video.

A third-round pick in 2019, Stienburg made his NHL debut on Oct. 16. Through eight games, he has no points to go along with 16 hits and 22 penalty minutes.

He will not be available for Colorado’s road game Saturday against the Nashville Predators or the following home contest Tuesday against the Seattle Kraken.

The Nova Scotia native played three seasons at Cornell before contributing 13 points (five goals, eight assists) and 63 penalty minutes in 54 games with the Colorado Eagles of the American Hockey League in 2023-24.