Looks like NHL VP of Player Safety Brendan Shanahan has the court of popular opinion on his side for this one.

Earlier today, the league announced that New Jersey Devils defenseman Anton Volchenkov received a four-game suspension for his elbow to Brad Marchand’s head during the Boston Bruins’ 5-4 victory at the Prudential Center in Newark last night. Volchenkov was assessed a game misconduct for the incident, while Marchand left the game with a presumed concussion and his status is uncertain at this time.

Here’s video of Shanahan explaining the incident that led to his ruling:

As a result, Volchenkov will forfeit nearly $92,000 of his salary and the Devils will have to go without his services in a crucial stretch of the 2013 season.

Marchand, the team’s leading scorer with 33 points (16 goals, 17 assists), is being evaluated today by doctors according to head coach Claude Julien.