Golden Knights center Chandler Stephenson will have a hearing with the NHL’s Department of Player Safety on Thursday for elbowing and interference.
The late hit, on Los Angeles Kings defenseman Tobias Bjornfot, came with 1:46 remaining in the second period of Wednesday’s game in Las Vegas.
Stephenson was given a major penalty and a game misconduct for elbowing on the play by referees Gord Dwyer and Steve Kozari.
Here’s the relevant portion of Rule 45:
Elbowing shall mean the use of an extended elbow in a manner that may or may not cause injury.
A major penalty, at the discretion of the Referee, shall be imposed on any player who uses his elbow to foul an opponent. A major penalty must be imposed under this rule for a foul
resulting in an injury to the face or head of an opponent. When a major penalty is imposed under this rule for a foul resulting in an injury to the face or head of an opponent, a game misconduct penalty shall also be imposed.
Golden Knights head coach Pete DeBoer agreed with the call.
“It looked like the right call,” DeBoer said after the game. “I wasn’t going to argue their decision. Where that goes from here, that’s out of my hands.”
It’s now in Player Safety’s hands. Stephenson and the Golden Knights will await their ruling.
Stephenson has never been fined or suspended during his 241-game NHL career. He has 7 goals as 13 assists in 32 games for the Vegas Golden Knights.
