Report: Niklas Kronwall could be suspended for big hit on Kucherov.

The Detroit Red Wings may be facing the daunting task of winning a Game 7 matchup without one of their better defensemen. Wings d-man Niklas Kronwall could be facing a suspension after he laid a big hit on Tampa Bay Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov in Monday night's Game 6 action between the two clubs. The Lightning emerged victorious by a score of 5-2. Kronwall has a hearing scheduled for this afternoon with the NHL's Board of Player Safety. The board itself referred to the hit as “charging/illegal check to the head”. While a hearing is not a good sign, it does not necessarily mean he will be suspended. According to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman, Kronwall may receive a fine instead. Kronwall is known for delivering big hits, but has never been suspended. For his part, he says he had no intent to injure Kucherov. “I thought it was a clean hit at the time,” Kronwall said per The Canadian Press. Kucherov was not injured on the play and returned to the game. “He made a hit. I’m not going to cry now,” Kucherov said postgame. “It’s a part of the game. That’s why we play here.” Tampa Bay head coach Jon Cooper said he didn’t see the hit. “The refs didn’t call a penalty so it must’ve been OK,” Cooper said. Here is the hit in question: Is it suspension worthy?