Engelland To Have In-Person Hearing For Hit To Head
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – The Penguins are already battling a series of injuries on the blue line, but they will likely be without another defenseman because of a suspension.
Deryk Engelland was ejected from last night's 4-1 win over the Detroit Red Wings for a hit to the head of Justin Abdelkader.
Engelland was assessed a match penalty on the play. Now, he will face an in-person hearing with the Department of Player Safety.
According to an NHL.com report, the hearing will take place on Wednesday.
The in-person hearing signifies that a pending suspension will likely be longer than five games.
Near the end of the first period, both players were making an attempt on a loose puck near the red line. Engelland's shoulder made initial contact with Abdelkader's face and his extended arm follow-through made the hit look even worse.
Abdelkader was helped off the ice by his teammates and did not return to the game.
Earlier in the day, the NHL suspended Boston's Shawn Thornton for 15 games for his attack on Brooks Orpik last week.
Orpik has since been placed on injured reserve after sustaining a concussion.
Other Players Out Of The Lineup:
James Neal served the third of a five-game suspension last night after kneeing Brad Marchand in the head.
The Penguins were also without the services of Kris Letang, Paul Martin, Rob Scuderi and Orpik against Detroit.
Evgeni Malkin suffered a lower-body injury after crashing feet-first into the boards while defending a 2-on-1 early in the third period.
Beau Bennett, Andrew Ebbett and Tanner Glass are also recovering from various injuries.
The Penguins won't have much time to heal up this week with games against Toronto, New York Rangers, Minnesota and Calgary this week.
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