(Photo credit: John Jones-Imagn Images)

The NHL's Department of Player Safety suspended Ottawa Senators forward Ridly Greig for two games for his sucker punch of an opponent.

The discipline was handed down Monday following a phone hearing. The incident occurred April 25 during Game 4 of an Eastern Conference first-round series, when the Carolina Hurricanes completed a four-game sweep and ended Ottawa's season.

Greig was penalized for roughing Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Sean Walker during a stoppage in play midway through the second period of Game 4. Amid a scrum between the teams, Ottawa teammate Warren Foegele restrained Walker in a headlock and Greig delivered an overhand punch at Walker, then an uppercut to his face.

'It is important to note that this is not a situation in which two players are squaring off in a mutual confrontation, only for the confrontation to escalate rapidly,' the NHL's Department of Player Safety statement said. 'In this situation, Walker is fully engaged with a Senators player when Greig knowingly approaches them and elects to throw two sucker punches towards the defenseless Walker with sufficient force to warrant supplemental discipline.'

The suspension will be applied to the start of the 2026-27 regular season. It is Greig's second career suspension.

Greig, 23, completed his fourth season in the NHL with 13 goals and 22 assists for 35 points over 77 games. The assist and point totals marked career highs, while it was the third straight season he finished with 13 goals. He also amassed 83 penalty minutes.

He had one assist and two penalty minutes for Ottawa in the first-round series.

--Field Level Media