Senators’ Parker Kelly suspended two games for illegal hit to the head on Kings’ Andreas Englund

The incident happened late in the third period of Thursday night’s game between the two teams. Kelly went to separate Englund from the puck inside the Senators’ blueline. The 24-year-old caught Englund up high, sending his head into the glass.

Englund seemed no worse for wear, as he quickly took retribution on Kelly as play continued. Kelly was handed a minor penalty for an illegal check to the head, while Englund was given two minutes for roughing.

Los Angeles went on to win the game, 4-3 in overtime.

This is the first time in Kelly’s 158-game NHL career that he has been handed supplemental discipline. He is in the midst of a career-best season, offensively, as the Camrose, Alberta native has notched six goals and seven assists in 61 games. Kelly’s previous best came in his rookie campaign in 2021-22, when he posted 12 points in 41 games.

Kelly will miss the Sens’ matchup with the San Jose Sharks on Saturday, and Tuesday’s clash with the Pittsburgh Penguins.

In three-plus years in the league, Kelly has registered 15 goals and 15 assists.

Kelly came to the Sens organization when he signed an entry-level contract in 2017. After four years with the Prince Albert Raiders of the Western Hockey League, he played his first full pro season with Ottawa’s American Hockey League affiliate, the Belleville Senators, during the 2019-20 season.

Ottawa (25-32-4) is last in the Atlantic Division, tied with the Columbus Blue Jackets for the worst record in the Eastern Conference.