Nicklas Backstrom of the Washington Capitals was scheduled for a disciplinary hearing as a result of his cross-check on Boston Bruins forward Rich Peverley at the end of Monday's game.
Backstrom was assessed a match penalty on the play.
The hearing was held this afternoon with Game 4 of the series slated for Thursday in Washington.
Capitals head coach Dale Hunter defended Backstrom's actions, saying he "was trying to protect his face," because Peverley had his stick raised. Hunter feels the Bruins are targetting the head of Backstrom, who missed 40 games near the end of the regular season with a head injury.
"It is crossing the line. To grab his head all the time is not the right way to play," said Hunter.
However, Bruins head coach Claude Julien had a different take on the incident.
"The only thing that's disappointing for me personally is that this is the third time in three games our player has been cross-checked in the face. ... You hope that those things don't get out of hand," Julien said after the game. "Somebody else, not us, has to deal with that."
