Update: Armstrong calls Barbashev suspension "excessive" | St. Louis Blues

In contrast to Oskar Sundqvist's suspension last week, Blues general manager Doug Armstrong criticized the decision.

"We think the suspension granted to Ivan is excessive for the game on the ice," Armstrong said in texting after sending. "Anyway, we have to prepare for a quality team in Boston on Sunday.

"NHL officials on and off the ice have a tough job and we respect their integrity."

The league determined that Barbashev had handed an illegal check to Marcus Johansson of Boston in Game 5 against the Bruins on Thursday.

Barbashev was not penalized for the game.

Before suspension was suspended, coach Craig Berube was asked if he was surprised the league was holding a hearing for a non-penalized match.

"Well, I mean, they're going to watch what's going on in the games, and that's part of it," he said. "It's physical hockey, heavy hockey in both directions, and they're going to look at things from time to time, and that's the way things are."

Last week, Sundqvist was suspended from a match for having embarked Boston defender Matt Grzelcyk in the second game of the series. Grzelcyk went into the concussion protocol and has not played since. Sundqvist missed the third game, a 7-2 loss to the Blues.

Barbashev has three goals, three assists and is over-1 during the playoffs. Barbashev and the rest of the fourth row played a key role in the smothering of Boston's Patrice Bergeron line – known as Perfection Line – in this series, which the Blues lead 3-2.

Berube said about Barbashev's contributions: "A lot like Sundqvist, you know – a heavy hockey, good defensive stuff, a shot on goal." Just ruthless on the puck and the failure before. physical line throughout the series. "

"Obviously, a very competitive guy," said Alexander Steen. "Play with a lot of intensity and passion, both sides of the puck, he's really smart, good player for us."

Barbashev had not previously been fined or suspended in his NHL career.

Robert Thomas (wrist) still missing, the probable substitutes are Robby Fabbri or Jordan Nolan.

"Someone will have to step in and do the job, that's certain," said Bérubé. "Kind of like Sundqvist with the suspension over there … Someone's coming to do the work, for sure."

After the second match, it turned out to be Zach Sanford, who had played well enough in Sundqvist's absence in the third game, to put Fabbri on the fourth and fifth after Sundqvist's return .

Arbitration is once again a problem after officials missed out on Tyler Bozak's apparent call in the third period of the Blues 2-1 win on Thursday, and the Boston coach, Bruce Cassidy, responded with sharp criticism.

As for Berube and the Blues?

"We will focus on the game," he said. "It goes both ways, as I said, it's possible to make calls, some are made and some are not, that's the way we see it."