Jets’ Josh Morrissey to have hearing for cross-checking Eric Staal

Eric Staal would be shaken up and head to the bench after taking a cross-check from Josh Morrissey.

Winnipeg Jets defenceman Joshua Morrissey will have a hearing with the NHL’s department of player safety for cross-checking Minnesota Wild centre Eric Staal.

Morrissey cross-checked Staal in the first period of Winnipeg’s Game 4 win in Minnesota, while the Jets were already short-handed.

There was no call on the play, something Wild coach Bruce Boudreau said cost his team the game.

The Jets’ 2-0 win gave them a commanding 3-1 series lead, with a chance to win their first playoff series as a franchise on Friday.

A suspension to Morrissey however, could leave an already depleted blue line down yet another defender. Tyler Myers missed Game 4 with an injury, and Dmitry Kulikov and Tobias Enstrom have yet to play this post-season.

[relatedlinks]

When submitting content, please abide by our submission guidelines, and avoid posting profanity, personal attacks or harassment. Should you violate our submissions guidelines, we reserve the right to remove your comments and block your account. Sportsnet reserves the right to close a story’s comment section at any time.