Ivan Barbashev suspended for game six in punishment for hit to head of Marcus Johansson

Ivan Barbashev had a hearing today on this hit which appeared to make contact with the head of Marcus Johansson:

Unsurprisingly, if you have a hearing, chances are good that you’re getting suspended. Like Oskar Sundqvist before him, Barbashev will sit out one game of the Stanley Cup Final.

This is an unfortunate loss for the Blues. Barbashev has been a key part of the Blues’ possession controlling, chance generating fourth line. Berube described Barbashev today as “a lot like Sundqvist, heavy hockey, good defensive stuff, penalty kill, just relentless on the puck and the forecheck. They’ve been a physical line throughout the Playoffs.”

He also expected the consequences and didn’t question the league calling a hearing. “[T]hey’re going to look at things that happen in games, and that’s just part of it. It’s physical hockey, it’s heavy hockey out there both ways, and they’re going to look at some stuff once in a while, so that’s the way it goes.”

The way it’s going right now is that Robbi Fabbri will be suiting up more than likely, if Robert Thomas isn’t close to a return.