NEW YORK (Reuters) - St. Louis Blues defenseman Ian Cole has been suspended for three games for delivering an illegal check to the head of Detroit Red Wings forward Justin Abdelkader, the National Hockey League (NHL) said Sunday.

The infraction occurred midway through the first period of Detroit's 3-0 triumph Saturday at Joe Louis Arena. Cole was assessed a minor penalty on the play.

Cole, who will miss games against Phoenix, Edmonton and Colorado, will be eligible to return January 10 at Montreal.

He will lose more than $21,000 in salary because of the suspension, the league said.

(Reporting By Steve Ginsburg; editing by Alastair Himmer)