Nazar gets two-game suspension for Horvat hit. Medical clearance is a separate question.

The NHL suspended Chicago's Frank Nazar for two games without pay Friday for an illegal check to Bo Horvat's head. The incident occurred in Thursday's Islanders-Blackhawks game on Long Island.

The disciplinary hearing is no longer pending. The league's official French-language decision confirms the sanction, and Sportsnet and the Chicago Sun-Times separately report the two-game ban. New York's 4-1 win was already covered here; this is the subsequent decision, not another recap of that result.

A hearing is now a decision

Sportsnet describes Horvat collecting a blocked shot and firing toward Chicago's empty net before Nazar made high contact. The Sun-Times reports that Chicago will be without Nazar against Carolina on Saturday and Pittsburgh on Tuesday. Those absences concern the Blackhawks' lineup, not Horvat's status.

Friday's Islanders notebook says Horvat entered concussion protocol and remained under evaluation. Protocol is not a diagnosis, and a league punishment is not a medical update. Saturday morning update: Horvat skated at center and told the Islanders he was ready for tonight. Participation remains unconfirmed.

Discipline does not answer availability

That separation matters for anyone checking New York's next lineup. The disciplinary process assesses the offending play. The club's medical staff assesses its player. One process can be complete while the other remains unresolved.

The sanction and Saturday's availability update are now both on the record. The projected lineup and a player's statement are not a final game sheet. We will not infer a diagnosis or substitute either for verified participation.