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Rene Bourque to talk with Shanahan over elbowing Nicklas Backstrom

Calgary Flames v Nashville Predators

NASHVILLE, TN - JANUARY 01: Rene Bourque #17 of the Calgary Flames skates against Jordin Tootoo #22 of the Nashville Predators at Bridgestone Arena on January 1, 2012 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images)

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Rene Bourque is doing a good job of getting the attention of Brendan Shanahan this season.

Bourque’s already been suspended for two games this year for a hit on Brent Seabrook and now he’ll get to talk with Shanahan again for delivering an elbow to the head of Caps forward Nicklas Backstrom.

Halfway through the third period of the Caps’ 3-1 win over Calgary, Backstrom carried the puck through the neutral zone. Bourque stepped up to deliver a hit on Backstrom and rather than trying to hit him with the body, Bourque aimed high and caught Backstrom around the head. Backstrom was unhurt on the play and Bourque received a minor penalty for elbowing.

Considering that Bourque’s previous suspension occurred just over two weeks ago, don’t expect Shanahan to be very lenient in this case. After all, if you just got punished for delivering a dirty hit and come back just a few games later and do it all over again, you should smacked harder.

In this case, Bourque gunning for Backstrom’s head as the point of contact will ensure that Shanahan acts strongly. Here’s rather crude video of the hit in question for you to judge for yourself.