Anaheim Ducks forward Brad May was given a three-game suspension Wednesday for attacking Minnesota Wild defenceman Kim Johnsson late in Game 4 of their Western Conference quarter-final series.

May was given a match penalty and a game misconduct for punching Johnsson in the back of the head in the final moments of Minnesota's 4-1 win Tuesday night. Johnsson sustained a head injury and won't play in Thursday's Game 5.

His status for the remainder of the series is unknown.

Anaheim holds a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven, meaning May is out for the remainder of the series no matter how long it goes. Should the Ducks eliminate the Wild with a victory Thursday night, May would not be eligible to return to the lineup until Game 2 of Anaheim's second-round matchup.

May's punch infuriated the Wild.

"It shows that a guy like Brad May has no respect, so he deserves no respect from anybody," Wild enforcer Derek Boogaard said following Tuesday's game.

"And that's how he's going to get treated."