Steve Ott, Andrew Peters, James Wisniewski suspended

File photo shows Detroit Redwings defenseman Chris Chelios (L) and Dallas Stars center Steve Ott exchanging words in the first period of their NHL hockey game in Dallas, Texas, February 17, 2008.

TORONTO (Reuters) - Dallas Stars forward Steve Ott has been suspended for three games without pay for striking Colorado Avalanche defenseman Jordan Leopold on the head, the NHL said on Wednesday.

The incident occurred midway through the opening period of the Stars's 3-0 win over the Avalanche on Sunday, when Ott slammed Leopold against the boards.

No penalty was called on the play while Leopold left the game with an apparent head injury and did not play in Colorado's victory at Atlanta on Tuesday.

Ott will forfeit $12,834.21 in salary and his suspension begins with Thursday's game at Detroit.

It was a busy day for the NHL disciplinary committee which also handed out one-game bans to Buffalo Sabres enforcer Andrew Peters and Chicago Blackhawks defenseman James Wisniewski.

Peters was hit with a suspension after scuffling with New York Rangers right wing Colton Orr at the end of the third period of the Sabres' 3-2 shootout loss on Monday.

Peters will forfeit $2,807.49 and will miss Wednesday's game at Pittsburgh.

Wisniewski was assessed a match penalty for a cross-check to the neck area of Detroit Red Wings's Mikael Samuelsson with just seven seconds left in the first period of the Blackhawks's 3-1 loss to the Wings on Monday.

He will also sit out Wednesday when the Blackhawks host the Carolina Hurricanes.

(Writing by Steve Keating in Detroit and Steve Ginsburg in Washington, editing by Padraic Halpin and Miles Evans)