"It's a new age in the NHL, where questionable hits are severely punished and the decisions are explained in detailed videos by former Blue Brendan Shanahan, now the league vice president in charge of player safety.

So when Blues forward Chris Stewart shoved Detroit's Niklas Kronwall head-first into the boards in the first period of Tuesday's 2-1 win over the Red Wings, earning a five-minute major and a game misconduct, it was a matter of when, not if, Stewart would hear from the NHL.

After a late-morning teleconference Wednesday, allowing Stewart to tell his side of the story, Shanahan announced a three-game suspension for the forward beginning with the Blues' game against the Florida Panthers tonight at Scottrade Center. Stewart will forfeit $46,621.62 in salary and won't be eligible to return to the lineup until Wednesday's game in Pittsburgh."