Breaking: Nikita Zadorov facing a suspension for Game 7.

The Calgary Flames may have suffered a big loss ahead of Game 7 of their opening round Stanley Cup playoff series against the Dallas Stars.

According to a breaking news report from National Hockey League insider Elliotte Friedman, Flames defenseman Nikita Zadorov will have a hearing with the NHL's Department of Player Safety. The announcement from Friedman comes off the back of a huge hit from Zadorov in Game 6 of the series, one that appeared to catch veteran Dallas Stars centerman Luke Glendening up high.

The fact that Zadorov has been offered a hearing almost certainly means that he will be suspended for at least one game, which would by extension rule him out of the 7th and final game of this series set for Sunday in Calgary. In theory he could be slapped with a fine, but that seems unlikely given the head contact, and he could also in theory earn more than a single game but that also seems unlikely given the enormous magnitude of even a 1 game suspension at this point in a series.

Update: The hearing is now official:

The hit has been the subject of much controversy due to how it has been perceived by each of the respective fan bases involved in this series. While there's little question that there was head contact on the play, which has led to fans of the Dallas Stars calling for Zadorov to be suspended, it is also true that Zadorov does not appear to target Glendening's head in any way, which has led to fans of the Calgary Flames calling for leniency.

After watching the replay several times I can certainly see both perspectives, and I do believe that the biggest factor in the head contact was the sheer size difference between the two men with Zadorov coming in at 6 feet 6 inches tall while Glendening is only 5 feet 11 inches tall by comparison. Zadorov even appears to come into this hit hunched down, but that does not appear to have been enough to save him from what now looks like an imminent suspension.

Should he be suspended for Game 7? Was this a dirty hit? Let us know all of your thoughts and more in the comments.