NEW YORK -- Nashville Predators forward Michael McCarron was suspended two games Sunday for an illegal check to the head of Tampa Bay's Yanni Gourde.
McCarron was given a match penalty for an illegal check to the head and thrown out of the game Saturday night. He struck Gourde in the head with his left shoulder with 26 seconds to go and the Lightning leading 3-0.
The NHL's department of player safety called the head contact avoidable. McCarron will miss Nashville's games Sunday against Dallas and Tuesday against Tampa Bay and be eligible to return Thursday against Carolina.
McCarron will forfeit $12,069 as part of the suspension. It's the first supplemental discipline of his 74-game NHL career.
The Predators struggled to find consistency with their depth most of the season, but have pieced together an impressive run headed into Monday's trade deadline. With eight wins in their last 10 games, Nashville entered Sunday with 45 points and in the fourth playoff position in the Central Division.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.