Zdeno Chara Escapes Suspension Following Max Pacioretty Hit

Zdeno Chara will not be suspended by the NHL for his hit on Max Pacioretty of the Montreal Canadiens, according to a statement from League Senior VP Mike Murphy on Wednesday afternoon. Murphy was the man who held the phone hearing with Chara earlier in the day.

Here’s the statement in it’s entirety:

”I conducted a hearing with Boston Bruins’ defenseman Zdeno Chara with respect to the major penalty for interference and game misconduct that he was assessed at 19:44 of the second period for a hit on Max Pacioretty of the Montreal Canadiens.

”After a thorough review of the video I can find no basis to impose supplemental discipline. This hit resulted from a play that evolved and then happened very quickly -- with both players skating in the same direction and with Chara attempting to angle his opponent into the boards. I could not find any evidence to suggest that, beyond this being a correct call for interference, that Chara targeted the head of his opponent, left his feet or delivered the check in any other manner that could be deemed to be dangerous.

“This was a hockey play that resulted in an injury because of the player colliding with the stanchion and then the ice surface. In reviewing this play, I also took into consideration that Chara has not been involved in a supplemental discipline incident during his 13-year NHL career.”

Chara was handed a five minute major for interference as well as a game misconduct on the play. Pacioretty remains in the hospital with a concussion and a fractured C4 vertebra.