Brad Stuart gets 3-game suspension for high hit on Rick Nash (VIDEO)

A day after bumbling through a 9-2 loss to the San Jose Sharks, the New York Rangers used Wednesday to regroup before playing their fourth game on a long, season-opening road trip against the Ducks, probably without star Rick Nash, who likely suffered a concussion on a high hit from defenseman Brad Stuart.

After a disciplinary phone hearing Wednesday with Brendan Shanahan, senior vice president of the NHL's Department of Public Safety, Stuart was suspended three games.

Nash, who played seven more shifts after Stuart's hard hit at 2:32 of the first period, said afterward that he had a "headache," but didn't feel it at first. "It got worse as it went on. It just didn't feel right. I haven't seen a replay, but he caught me right across the head, so, I guess it's a head shot. I felt it right across here," pointing to the right side of his face and jaw.

"Anytime you get a headshot you're concerned, to feel the way it feels. It's not a good feeling."

Nash previously suffered a concussion in February 2012 on a hit from behind by Boston's Milan Lucic and was on injured reserve for four games.

NHL quiet about Nash's cheap hit on Kopecky

It's entirely possible Rick Nash could hear from Brendan Shanahan and the NHL's Department of Player Safety about the vicious back of the head shot the New York Ranger leveled against Tomas Kopecky Thursday night. But the NHL has been pretty quiet about the cheap shot and that silence speaks volumes.

"There will be no hearing on Nash..." tweeted Larry Brooks of The New York Post Friday afternoon, "Boggles the mind."

Late in the third period of the Rangers 3-1 loss to the Florida Panthers, Nash came flying in as Tomas Kopecky took a shot from between the circles that was saved by Henrik Lundqvist.

As replays showed, Nash left his feet and apparently elbowed him in the back of Kopecky's head. The Panthers forward, who wasn't facing Nash, was down on the ice without his helmet for a few seconds and skated off. Nash wasn't called for a penalty.

The Rangers don't play again until Sunday, so the NHL might still be reviewing it.

Nash wasn't penalized in the game and isn't a known goon while Kopecky finished the game on the bench, but the hit does deserve some sort of punishment.

Actually, it appears as if there will be no hearing on Nash...Boggles the mind.
— Larry Brooks(@NYP_Brooksie) March 22, 2013