Connor Zary Gets Banned for Two Matches for Hitting Elias Pettersson with the Elbow

Connor Zary, who plays for the Calgary Flames, earned himself a two-game ban for what was seen as a particularly heated incident involving the Vancouver vs. Flames during an earlier game shootout on Wednesday night. The incident was sparked as Zary struck the defenseman Pettersson-twisting his elbow into the player- while the hit pictured was just a minor penalty for interference at the time; however, the NHL Department of Player Safety reviewed it as reckless and issued a one-time ban without pay that cost Zary $8,993.

The hit drew responses right away from both teams: Flames defenders stood up for Zary's action as part of the physicality that comes with the sport; Canucks players and many of their fans dismissed it as a senseless and reckless act. At first, the referees contained it with a minor penalty, but later intervention on the part of the league made it quite clear that such hits, especially those targeting the head, would not be tolerated.
At 11:19 of the first period, Elias Pettersson crushed Flames' center Nazem Kadri, knocking him off balance as the puck was nearing the blue line. As a reaction, Connor Zary elbowed Pettersson in the head while he was blind on a hit that brought an interference penalty.

Under the conditions of the event on December 16, the officials had ruled it just a two-minute minor. League officials subsequently ruled the hit was avoidable and dangerous, and the suspension would therefore cover two games. The NHL has been very clear recently that a head blindside hit is a major violation and would not be tolerated.
However, even more astonishing, was the way Elias Pettersson went on to affect the game by not scoring one time but by making the goaltender save with only a minute and 45 seconds remaining. In the first round of the shootout, he also scored, contributing to the Canucks' victory. The contest was finally decided when Conor Garland found the back of the net in the fourth round of the shootout, sealing Vancouver's hard-fought victory.
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Zary understands perfectly well that what has happened is simply a reiteration of the notice to all players that the NHL will no longer take part in helmet popping by any player. While rough play is important within the game of hockey, penalties are harsh for retaliatory hits that include the head. During Zary's suspension, the Flames must take him out of the lineup and forward Elias Pettersson and the Vancouver Canucks.