The NHL rolled out some big disciplinary decisions on Monday, but those hoping for closure regarding Phil Kessel slashing John Scott will need to wait until Tuesday.
The league scheduled a telephone hearing with Kessel, 25, for Tuesday afternoon at 4 p.m. ET. That means his maximum punishment would be five games, although it’s anyone’s guess if he’ll miss a single regular season contest at all.
Kessel explained his actions as a matter of reflex/self-defense against Scott, 30, one of the NHL’s most intimidating enforcers. Here’s video of Sunday’s line brawl, with that exchange in the beginning:
That fracas already cost the Leafs dearly in the form of David Clarkson’s automatic 10-game suspension; we’ll see if they lose one of the league’s deadliest snipers for any amount of time, too.