Red Wings D Kronwall to face hearing for hit

Niklas Kronwall will have a hearing Tuesday for his high hit in Game 6. (USATSI)

The hit heard ‘round the NHL Monday night is apparently going to be met with a response. The NHL’s Department of Player Safety has called a hearing for Detroit Red Wings Niklas Kronwall, who delivered a devastating hit on Tampa Bay Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov in the second period of Game 6 Monday night.

Detroit’s Niklas Kronwall will have a hearing this afternoon for charging/illegal check to the head on Tampa Bay’s Nikita Kucherov.

— NHL Player Safety (@NHLPlayerSafety) April 28, 2015

It is important to note that Kronwall only has a hearing. It doesn’t guarantee that he will be suspended, but it is very rare that a hearing is not concluded with a decision in favor of supplemental discipline.

Kronwall delivered the hit near the offensive blue line late in the second period. He appeared to leave his feet prior to making contact and his forearm connected squarely with Kucherov’s head. The Lightning forward had just tried to turn up ice with a pass. Kucherov picked his head up just as Kronwall came in to deliver the blow.

Here’s another look at the hit from multiple angles.

Kronwall was not penalized on the play. Kucherov briefly left the game, but returned for the third period seemingly uninjured.

The NHL has not issued any suspensions during the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Should Kronwall be suspended, he will miss at least Game 7 between the Red Wings and Lightning, which is scheduled for Wednesday night at 7:30 p.m. ET.

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