Pacioretty to have phone hearing Monday for hit on Letang

TSN.ca Staff

11/27/2011 1:30:25 PM

Montreal Canadiens winger Max Pacioretty will have a phone hearing with NHL disciplinarian Brendan Shanahan on Monday morning for his hit on Pittsburgh Penguins defenceman Kris Letang in the third period of Saturday's game.

Pacioretty caught Letang with a shoulder to the head, leaving him bloodied with a broken nose. No penalty was called on the hit.

Letang went off for repairs before returning in overtime and scoring the winning goal in a 4-3 Penguins victory.

"I feel terrible that he got hurt and I'm thankful that he came back," Pacioretty said following the game.

"It's a quick decision there. He's coming across the middle, he's got the puck and is maybe in a scoring opportunity. If I let him go, he could potentially score on us. I knew I had to hit him but I didn't want the result to be like that.

"I'm sorry for what happened and I'm glad he's okay."

Pacioretty was diagnosed with a severe concussion and a cervical neck fracture when Boston Bruins' Zdeno Chara guided him into a stanchion back on March 8.