Boston Bruins forward David Backes has been suspended three games for an illegal check to the head of Devils forward Blake Coleman, the NHL’s Department of Player Safety announced Friday.

The penalty means he will miss the Winter Classic scheduled for New Year’s Day against the Chicago Blackhawks.

Backes received a two-minute penalty late in the third period of Thursday’s 5-2 loss for the hit on Coleman. The incident occurred just after Coleman shot the puck out of his own end and Backes’ shoulder appeared to make direct contact with the Devils forward’s head.