Player Safety confirms Flames are facing another suspension.
The Calgary Flames are staring down another suspension the league's Department of Player Safety has announced.
It sounds like the Calgary Flames may soon be dealing with another suspended player early in the season.
On Sunday, the National Hockey League's Department of Player Safety officially announced that Flames veteran forward Andrew Mangiapane would have a hearing for the cross-check he delivered to Seattle Kraken forward Jared McCann.
It seems likely that a suspension will be forthcoming given that Mangiapane was already assessed a 5 minute major and a game misconduct, and also due to the fact that it appeared to be a dangerous blow delivered to a defenseless opponent.
Mangiapane delivered a crosscheck to the back of McCann's neck while the Kraken forward was down on the ice, flat on his stomach, and was in no position to defend himself from the blow. Add to that the fact that Mangiapane appeared to target an unprotected part of McCann's body and it becomes easy to see why the NHL is stepping in to discipline Mangiapane.
The Flames have not gotten off to the start they would have liked both in terms of their play on the ice as well as in terms of drawing the wrong kind of attention from the NHL. Flames defenseman Rasmus Andersson has already earned himself a hefty 4 game suspension this season for a dirty hit on Columbus Blue Jackets forward Patrik Laine, and the combined actions of Andersson and Mangiapane may now put the Flames under the microscope of Player Safety.
