Anaheim Ducks defenceman Clayton Stoner will not have a hearing for his hit that hospitalized Montreal Canadiens forward Max Pacioretty.
Early in the third period Stoner hit Pacioretty into the boards as he watched his pass to the point. The Canadiens’ leading scorer fell head first into the boards and had to be helped off the ice. He was later sent to the hospital for precautionary reasons.
There was no penalty on the play.
“I didn’t mean to hurt him but the game’s fast and sometimes guys go into the boards wrong,” said Stoner after the game. “I hope he’s all right and I didn’t mean any intentions to hurt him.”
Pacioretty has 13 goals and 25 points in 33 games this season with the Canadiens. Head coach Michel Therrien confirmed that he’s day-to-day with the injury caused by the hit.
Stoner has just one point in 28 games with the Ducks in his fifth year in the NHL. He averages 17:47 of ice time per game.