Ottawa Senators forward Alexandre Burrows is no stranger to controversy, and his latest shenanigans could warrant a talking to from the NHL’s department of player safety.
Burrows went after New Jersey Devils star Taylor Hall with just under 10 minutes remaining in the second period Tuesday night, dragging Hall to the ice before appearing to knee Hall in the head.
Hall seemed to be leaving a scrum before being accosted by Burrows, who was given four minutes in penalties for his efforts (two for cross-checking, two for roughing).
“He punched me in the back of the head like 10 times,” Hall told Devils reporter Amanda Stein after the game. “He kind of lost his mind.”
New Jersey coach John Hynes was more blunt in his assessment of the Senators pest:
The Devils converted on the man advantage when Hall himself blasted a slapshot past Craig Anderson for his 19th goal of the season.
Ottawa would go on to win the game by a 5-3 score, and Burrows finished the game with one assist and one shot on goal in over 13 minutes of action.
The 36-year-old has been disciplined by the NHL before, getting a three-game suspension in 2014 for a hit on then-Canadiens defenceman Alexei Emelin.
He was also fined $2,500 for his comments accusing referee Stephane Auger of bias in his penalty calls back in 2010.
Even though Hall escaped injury, the play was deemed egregious enough for the NHL Department of Player Safety to offer Burrows an in-person hearing, which means he could be suspended longer than five games. Burrows declined the in-person and will do it over the phone on Wednesday.
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