St. Louis Blues' Robert Bortuzzo suspended four games for cross-checking Nashville Predators' Viktor Arvidsson

St. Louis defenseman Robert Bortuzzo cross-checked Viktor Arvidsson in front of the Blues' net Saturday night. He looked at the referee, complained about being penalized, then cross-checked the Nashville Predators forward again when he was still down on the ice.

That second cross-check landed Bortuzzo a four-game suspension Sunday. He will forfeit $67,073.16 in pay.

Arvidsson, who was also shoved by Blues goalie Jordan Binnington after he got up, disappeared down the tunnel behind the Predators bench and missed the rest of the game. Nashville announced Sunday that he will be out four to six weeks with a lower-body injury.

"It's dirty," Predators coach Peter Laviolette said of the hit after the game.

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The league said the second hit rose to the level of a suspension because it was "forceful," was applied to a vulnerable area of Arvidsson's body and was done "for no other reason than frustration."

The league also cited Bortuzzo's history of disciplinary action with the league, including two fines for cross-checking. He also has two suspensions.

In September 2018, he was suspended for two preseason games and one regular-season game for elbowing Washington Capitals defenseman Michal Kempny.

He also was suspended two games in 2014 for a late, high hit on the New Jersey Devils' Jaromir Jagr.

Arvidsson is tied for fourth on the Predators with 15 points and third with six goals. He set a franchise record with 34 goals last season, despite missing 24 games with injuries.

Contributing: Mike Brehm, Paste BN Sports