Seattle Kraken forward Yanni Gourde will have a hearing with the Department of Player Safety for charging Edmonton Oilers defenceman Mattias Ekholm during Thursday’s heated game.
The incident happened late in the third, after the Oilers had scored three unanswered goals to erase a two-goal deficit and take the lead, as Ekholm retrieved a puck at the boards behind the net. With speed, Gourde landed a heavy hit on the forecheck, stunning Ekholm momentarily.
Following a scrum, Gourde was assessed a five-minute major penalty on the play.
“I didn’t love the hit,” Ekholm told reporters after the game. “I don’t think you should ever jump into a hit, I think he jumped right at my face and I was just the recipient of it more than anything.”
Since the hearing is not in-person, the supplemental discipline will not exceed five games, should a suspension be necessary.