NHL has hearing with Flyers' Shayne Gostisbehere for late hit on Penguins' Mark Friedman
May 5—The NHL Department of Player Safety announced Wednesday it was having a hearing with a Philadelphia Flyers defenseman for a hit on the Pittsburgh Penguins' Mark Friedman during the previous evening's game.
Shayne Gostisbehere was assessed a two-minute penalty for cross-checking after he shoved Friedman moments after Friedman added an empty-net goal with 4 minutes and 7 seconds left in what ended up a 7-3 Penguins' victory in Philadelphia on Tuesday. In a message posted to the verified Twitter account of the NHL's Department of Player Safety, Gostisbehere's hit was referred to as "boarding."
Friedman fell and crashed into the boards. But he suffered no apparent injury on the play.
Friedman was part of the Flyers' organization before being waived and claimed by the Penguins in February. By chance, all four of the games Friedman has played for the Penguins have been against the Flyers — he suffered a concussion as the result of one of two hits he absorbed from former teammates in the second such game March 4.
Friedman missed more than a month because of that injury but since had been a healthy scratch until an injury to defenseman Mike Matheson compelled coach Mike Sullivan to re-insert Friedman into the lineup.
Friedman also was involved in a fight earlier during Tuesday's game.
After the game, the Penguins mostly took a diplomatic tact toward the acts of aggression from the Flyers.
Later Wednesday, the league is expected to announce what discipline — if any — it will levy on Gostisbehere for the hit. It is rare that a hearing does not lead to a suspension.
Keep up with the Pittsburgh Penguins all season long.
Chris Adamski is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Chris by email at cadamski@triblive.com or via Twitter .
