NHL commissioner Gary Bettman on Friday upheld the six-game suspension assessed to Detroit Red Wings forward David Perron.

Perron was suspended Dec. 11, two days after cross-checking Ottawa Senators defenseman Artem Zub in the head during the first period of their game in Detroit. The league viewed the hit as a retaliatory move after the Senators' Mathieu Joseph and Parker Kelly hit Detroit's Dylan Larkin, leaving the Red Wings' captain unconscious on the ice.

Perron, whose appeal was heard Tuesday, has already served all six games of the suspension. He is eligible to return Friday against the visiting Philadelphia Flyers.

Detroit Red Wings forward David Perron has been suspended six games without pay for delivering a cross-check to the head of Ottawa Senators defenseman Artem Zub on Saturday.

It's the first suspension of the veteran winger's 1,081-game NHL career.