Rangers’ Lindgren to have hearing for illegal check to head

Ryan Lindgren leaves Joonas Donskoi shaken up after a thunderous hit and then drops the gloves with Nazem Kadri.

New York Rangers defenceman Ryan Lindgren will have a hearing with the NHL Department of Player Safety on Wednesday for an illegal check to the head on Colorado Avalanche forward Joonas Donskoi.

The hit happened with 3:42 left in the first period of Tuesday night’s 5-3 Rangers win. Donskoi had just taken control of the puck in the neutral zone and was skating towards the Rangers’ zone when Lindgren delivered a hit to the Finnish forward. The initial point of contact made by Lindgren’s shoulder appeared to be with Donskoi’s head.

Donskoi was shaken up by the hit and remained down on the ice before heading to the locker room. Avalanche teammate Nazem Kadri took exception to the check, leading to a fight between Kadri and Lindgren that left the latter bloodied.

Both Kadri and Lindgren were giving majors for fighting, and Kadri also received a minor for instigating and a 10-minute misconduct.

Neither Donskoi nor Lindgren returned to the game.

— With files from Associated Press

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