Florida Panthers defenseman Dmitry Kulikov has been offered an in-person hearing for his hit on Dallas Stars forward Tyler Seguin Friday night.
Kulikov was assessed a five minute major and a game misconduct for clipping on the play.
Since the 24-year-old has been offered an in-person hearing his suspension can exceed five games.
“It’s a dirty shot. It’s just something that ends up taking your best player out of the game,” said Stars coach Lindy Ruff postgame. “Not only out of the game, it is taking him out of the lineup for a little while for us.
“(We will) just let the league deal with it. I used to yell and scream about it but that doesn’t do any good. It’s just a shot that didn’t need to happen.”
The Stars announced Saturday that Seguin has been placed in injured reserve with a lower body injury.
According to Mike Heika of The Dallas Morning News, Seguin suffered a knee injury and could miss 2-4 weeks.
In anticipation of Kulikov’s suspension the Panthers are expected to recall defenseman Shane O’Brien from the AHL’s San Antonio Rampage.
Kulikov has not been suspended previously.