Buffalo Sabres forward Jeff Skinner is scheduled to have a disciplinary hearing with the NHL over a cross-check he delivered to the face of Pittsburgh Penguins forward Jake Guentzel during a 4-3 road win by the Penguins at the KeyBank Center in Buffalo, N.Y. on Friday.
The NHL’s Department of Player Safety announced Skinner’s hearing late Friday night. A specific time for the hearing was not announced.
At 19:38 of the third period, Sabres goaltender Craig Anderson smothered a puck to freeze play and Guentzel swatted him with his stick. After officials blew a whistle, Skinner engaged with Guentzel near the home bench. At first, each player exchanged a handful of slashes before things escalated to the point that Skinner struck Guentzel’s face with a cross-check. Skinner then dragged Guentzel to the ice, causing a scrum of other players to develop.
After officials separated the combatants, Skinner was assessed a match penalty, an infraction that carries an automatic but indefinite suspension pending a hearing with the league, as well as a minor penalty for slashing.
As for Guentzel, he received a minor penalty for slashing. After briefly retreating to the dressing room, he returned and served his penalty.
All penalties carried over to overtime with the Penguins receiving a power-play opportunity that also carried over to the extra period. They converted the four-on-three sequence into the winning goal by forward Jeff Carter at the 1:36 mark.
The Penguins are scheduled to host the Sabres at PPG Paints Arena on Saturday, shortly after 7 p.m.
