It looks like Sunday night’s action in Winnipeg could result in some suspensions.
The NHL’s Department of Player Safety announced that Neal Pionk will have a hearing for kneeing Toronto Maple Leafs defender Rasmus Sandin while Jason Spezza will have an in-person hearing for kneeing Pionk.
Pionk drilled Sandin with an open-ice knee in the third period.
Rasmus Sandin is down.
— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) December 6, 2021
Goes knee-on-knee with Neal Pionk pic.twitter.com/Nh1wVXSb9Y
And then Spezza retaliated shortly after by driving his knee into Pionk as he was sliding on the ice.
Jason Spezza is an avenger
— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) December 6, 2021
Goes right for Pionk pic.twitter.com/95v2TID9UE
Neither Spezza nor Pionk were issued penalties for these respective plays during the game. The Jets wound up beating the Leafs by a score of 6-3 and 52 minutes in penalties were handed out between the two teams.
Since Spezza’s hearing is in-person, the league can suspend him for five games or more. The date and time of the hearing have yet to be determined.
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