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Ristolainen to have hearing for hit that concussed Guentzel

Buffalo blueliner Rasmus Ristolainen will have a disciplinary hearing following Tuesday night’s interference major on Pens forward Jake Guentzel, the NHL’s Department of Player Safety has announced.

Ristolainen was given a five-minute interference major and game misconduct for the hit, which left Guentzel bloodied and, as we later learned, with a concussion. Pittsburgh head coach Mike Sullivan confirmed the diagnosis in his postgame presser.

Ristolainen, 22, doesn’t have any history with the NHL’s DoPS, so that should be reflected in any potential punishment. At the same time, Guentzel was injured on the play, and it could be argued he was in a prone position.

“I thought it was bad,” Penguins forward Chris Kunitz said of the hit, per the Buffalo News. “The puck doesn’t get to him. He’s looking to get the puck to get into the play, and the guy holds up a second and then he still goes through him.”