Toronto Maple Leafs right wing Carter Ashton will have a hearing with the NHL’s department of player safety on Friday to discuss the boarding hit he delivered on Calgary Flames defenceman Derek Smith on Wednesday night at Scotiabank Saddledome.
At 16:56 of the second period of Toronto’s 4-2 road victory, Ashton nailed Smith right in the numbers in the neutral zone. Smith crashed into the boards but got up on his own power and remained in the game. Smith’s defence partner, Shane O’Brien, immediately went after Ashton, and the two fought. O’Brien bloodied Carter’s nose.
Ashton was dealt a two-minute boarding penalty on the play as well as a five-minute fighting major.
The Maple Leaf’s hearing will take place over the telephone, meaning a suspension will not exceed five games.
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