James Neal of the Dallas Stars was suspended two games for a hit on Derek Dorsett of the Columbus Blue Jackets. James Neal of the Dallas Stars was suspended two games for a hit on Derek Dorsett of the Columbus Blue Jackets. (Jeff Gross/Getty Images)

The NHL suspended Dallas Stars left winger James Neal two games on Friday for a nasty hit on Columbus' Derek Dorsett during Thursday's 4-1 Blue Jackets victory, the league said on its website.

Neal charged into a battle for the puck along the boards and slammed Dorsett from behind, and the Blue Jackets winger's head hit the glass.

The NHL release said it looked like Neal left his feet and tried to deliver a hit to Blue Jackets defenceman Marc Methot, but missed and hit Dorsett instead.

It took some time for a visibly dazed Dorsett to leave the ice, and Neal was slapped with a five-minute major for boarding and a game misconduct.

Neal leads the Stars with 11 goals and 22 points.