Minnesota Wild defenseman Ryan Suter has a phone hearing for his elbow to the head of Pittsburgh Penguins’ forward Steve Downie.
Minnesota's Ryan Suter will have a hearing Wednesday afternoon for elbowing Pittsburgh's Steve Downie.
— NHL Player Safety (@NHLPlayerSafety) January 14, 2015
The hit occurred early in the second period and Downie did not return to the game.
“I reached for the puck and kind of poked it and then... I hope he’s alright obviously,” said Suter post-game. “That’s not the type of player I am. It was kind of a flukey thing. He kind of just brushed my arm, my elbow as he went by. I poked for it (the puck) and then I went to get my stick. I just hope he’s alright. That’s not the type of player I am. I personally never want to see anyone get hurt.
“I’m skating backwards. It was unintentional.”
Suter said he had a word with Penguins captain Sidney Crosby at the end of the second period.
“I just told him ‘Sid you know what kind of guy I am’ and he said ‘yeah’. So I just asked him to say sorry and hopefully he’s alright,” said Suter.
Suter was not penalized on the play. He has not received supplemental discipline previously.