https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJJOxKANK6E

Following Tuesday’s game, the NHL held a telephone hearing with Penguins defenseman Robert Bortuzzo for his unpenalized hit on Jaromir Jagr. Apparently, Bortuzzo was on a seek and destroy mission stemming from him and Jagr going at it earlier. The physical Bortuzzo landed a borderline high hit on Jagr after he had released the puck injuring the Devils forward.

Following the hearing, the league suspended Bortuzzo two games. As I noted in a previous post, the hit came late after Jagr passed the puck to Scott Gomez. Something that is referenced in the video above. This is interference. Considering that Jagr didn’t have the puck and was defenseless, Bortuzzo had enough time to avoid such a dangerous hit. Instead, he made shoulder to shoulder contact also catching Jagr’s chin causing him to miss the rest of the game.

Jagr isn’t expected to miss any time. However, it didn’t stop the NHL from making the appropriate ruling. Bortuzzo had no prior history but will miss the next two games and forfeit $6,451.62 to the Emergency Player’s Fund.