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(Video) McKenzie: ‘Best guess is anywhere from 3-5 games’ for Byfuglien suspension

Jets Camp Hockey

Winnipeg Jets’ Dustin Byfuglien, top, talks to goaltender Al Montoya (35) during NHL hockey training camp Friday, Sept. 13, 2013, in Winnipeg, Manitoba. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, John Woods)

AP

On Wednesday, NHL insider Bob McKenzie spoke with NBC’s Liam McHugh about the nasty cross-check Dustin Byfuglien delivered to J.T. Miller during Winnipeg’s 3-2 loss to the Rangers on Tuesday night:

Byfuglien, as McKenzie notes, will have a telephone hearing at 10:30 a.m. ET on Thursday morning, meaning the maximum suspension length is five games. While the incident was ugly, two things are working in Byfuglien’s favor: 1) no history as a repeat offender, and 2) Miller wasn’t injured on the play.

That said, those factors are offset by the graphic video evidence against Byfuglien. As McKenzie notes, “it was vicious, and it deserves to be penalized.”

Winnipeg has five games remaining in its regular season: Saturday versus Vancouver, Monday in Minnesota, Tuesday in St. Louis, next Thursday in Colorado and then the regular-season finale, at home, against Calgary on Saturday, Apr. 11.