Spezza suspension reduced to four games by Commissioner Bettman on appeal

Jason Spezza had his six-game suspension from the NHL Department of Player Safety upheld but reduced to four games by NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman on Friday.

The Toronto Maple Leafs forward appealed the suspension issued Dec. 7 for kneeing Winnipeg Jets defenseman Neal Pionk in a 6-3 loss Dec. 5. He has already sat out four games.
Spezza, who had a Zoom hearing with Commissioner Bettman on Tuesday, was placed in NHL COVID-19 protocol on Friday after the reduction was announced. He would have been eligible to return for the Maple Leafs at the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday (7 p.m. ET, CBC, SNO, SNW, SNP, ESPN+, NHL LIVE).
Spezza has scored 11 points (seven goals, four assists) in 26 games this season.
Toronto forwards John Tavares, Wayne Simmonds and Alexander Kerfoot also were placed in NHL COVID-19 protocol Friday.
Practice was canceled Friday in Vancouver, where the Maple Leafs are scheduled to play the Canucks on Saturday (7 p.m. ET; CBC, SNO, SNW, SNP, ESPN+, NHL LIVE).
Toronto was scheduled to play the Calgary Flames on Thursday but the game was postponed after 19 Flames players, three coaches and nine staff members were placed in protocol.
Read Commissioner Bettman's complete ruling here.