NHL Player Safety Schedules Hearing for Panthers' Dimitry Kulikov

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TJ Tucker
March 17, 2024 (5:32 PM)

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The NHL's Department of Player Safety has scheduled a hearing for Dimitry Kulikov of the Florida Panthers.

The NHL's Department of Player Safety has summoned a member of the Florida Panthers following the team's game against a division rival last night. Defenceman Dimitry Kulikov will have a hearing on Monday.

Kulikov was ejected from the game against the Tampa Bay Lightning after a high hit on Conor Sheary of the Tampa Bay Lightning in front of the Bolts' net. Immediately following the hit, Florida put a puck past Andrei Vasilevskiy. However, the goal was called back because of the hit, and Kulikov received a match penalty.

"Florida's Dmitry Kulikov will have a hearing tomorrow for an illegal check to the head on Tampa Bay's Conor Sheary."

Here's a closer look at Kulikov's hit on Sheary. He caught him square in the side of the head.

There is some debate over whether Sheary should take some blame for the high hit. Here's a possible explanation on why it was kept a major penalty after reviewing the play.

"I don't know who needs to hear this but the refs had two choices on the Kulikov hit based on the rules: a minor or a match penalty. It wasn't a minor, which is usually incidental contact. He decided to hit Sheary and the head was picked.

It was 💯the right call."