Carolina Hurricanes forward Tuomo Ruutu has been suspended for three games for slamming Darcy Tucker of the Colorado Avalanche into the boards.

Ruutu was assessed a major penalty and a game misconduct for boarding Tucker during the second period of Colorado's 5-4 win over the Hurricanes on Friday.

Tucker suffered concussion on the play. Ruutu will miss games on Saturday night at Minnesota, Wednesday against St Louis and next Saturday at Philadelphia.