A.J. Greer was given a one-game suspension by the NHL’s Department of PlayerSafety for his crosscheck to the face of Montreal Canadiens’ forward Mike Hoffman in the Bruins’ 4-2 win over the Habs on Thursday at the Garden.

It is the first time Greer has been either suspended or fined in his 99 games in the National Hockey League.

Late in the first period, Greer and Hoffman were jousting with their sticks before a faceoff. They eventually turned to face each other and, after Hoffman put his stick into Greer’s chest in what the league deemed a defensive posture, Greer crosschecked him in the face.

“It is important to note that this is not a case of a stick directed towards the body that rides up the opponent,” according to the league’s video explanation. “This crosscheck is delivered cleanly to the head of Hoffman. And while we understand Greer’s assertion that he does not intend to strike Hoffman in this manner, players are responsible for the stick at all times. This is a careless crosscheck delivered in a stoppage of play that strikes an opponent at a dangerous height with the force necessary that warrants supplemental discipline.”

Greer has been in and out of the lineup as he and Jakob Lauko have been getting games on the fourth line. But with the suspension Greer won’t be available for Saturday’s game against Tampa at the Garden.