Will Michael Pezzetta Get Suspended? Could His Season Be Over?

The NHL Department of Player Safety announced Sunday that Montreal Canadiens winger Michael Pezzetta was scheduled to have a phone hearing for illegal check to the head of Washington Capitals forward T.J. Oshie. The hearing was scheduled to take place on Monday due to Sunday being Easter.

The hit took place 15:44 into the third period of the Canadiens’ 8-4 loss to the Capitals.  Pezzetta came in late from the side on Oshie and against the boards. Michael Pezzetta decided to follow through on his hit but did more of a drive-by hit from the side and then chicken-winged his elbow up into Oshie’s head. The Montreal Canadiens forward was given a two-minute minor penalty for illegal check to the head following the play and could receive up to a four-game suspension depending on how the head of the NHL Department of Player Safety head George Parros and his team view the headshot.

Michael Pezzetta might get something from the league on this. pic.twitter.com/dMLmyjUI7z

— Matt Drake (@DrakeMT) April 17, 2022

Montreal’s Michael Pezzetta will have a hearing tomorrow for an Illegal Check to the Head on Washington’s T.J. Oshie.

— NHL Player Safety (@NHLPlayerSafety) April 17, 2022

Pezzetta played 7:56 of ice time Saturday night and did not register a point. The Montreal Canadiens winger has five goals and three assists in 47 games for the Habs this season.

Oshie had one goal in 18:50 of ice time, giving him 10 lamplighters this season to go along with 13 assists in 37 games for the Washington Capitals.

The Montreal Canadiens have had two players suspended this season. Cedric Paquette was suspended for two games and fined $9,000 for boarding Anaheim Ducks forward Trevor Zegras in a 4-2 loss on Oct. 31. Then more recently, on Jan.12, Montreal Canadiens defenceman Chris Wideman was suspended one game for head-butting Boston Bruins forward Erik Haula in a 5-1 loss the the Bruins.

With just six games left in the season for the Montreal Canadiens, Pezzetta’s season could potentially be over, if he gets the maximum of four games, he and/or the Canadiens may just say that’s it for the pesky and gritty winger in the 2021-22 season.