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Coyotes’ Bissonnette will attempt to appeal suspension Sunday

Phoenix Coyotes v Toronto Maple Leafs

TORONTO, ON - NOVEMBER 15: A fan displays a poster for one of the NHL’s top tweeters Paul Bissonnette #12 of the Phoenix Coyotes during warmups prior to the game against the Toronto Maple Leafs at the Air Canada Centre on November 15, 2011 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

Bruce Bennett

Phoenix Coyotes enforcer Paul Bissonnete will get his chance to appeal an automatic 10-game suspension with NHL commissioner Gary Bettman on Sunday afternoon, Fox Sports Arizona reports.*

To review, “BizNasty” received that suspension for leaving the bench to start a fight during a preseason game against the Los Angeles Kings in reaction to a hit teammate Rostislav Klesla received from Jordan Nolan. (To some controversy, Nolan didn’t receive a fine or suspension for the check.)

It’s unclear how, exactly, the 28-year-old hopes to get out from under the punishment. Fox Sports Arizona delved into the possibilities a bit:

It’s unclear on what grounds Bissonnette and his agent, Mark Guy will appeal. Guy did not return e-mails, but NHL spokesperson John Dellapina said last week that “one of the points of the illegal-line-change rule is to prohibit teams from creating an artificial manpower advantage during an altercation. That’s why it doesn’t matter how aggressive Bissonnette was upon arriving at the scrum -- simply by being there he creates an odd-man situation that could free up a teammate to do damage.”

Maybe they’re merely trying to waste Bettman’s time?

* - The report says it will happen at “noon” but doesn’t clarify if that’s ET or not.

Follow James O’Brien @cyclelikesedins