NHL Department of Player Safety to Review Connor Zary for Incident Involving Elias Pettersson

A heated rivalry clash between the Vancouver Canucks and Calgary Flames on Wednesday night ended up with a shootout victory for the 'Nucks, it being the first time the team has won a game after trailing two periods.

But it was what happened between Connor Zary, Nazem Kadri, and Elias Pettersson that got things really stirred up. After Pettersson laid out Kadri with a clean, though vicious check; it was Zary who took things to another level.

Zary had some clear intentions in mind and blatantly raised his elbow in order to enact some sort of revenge on Pettersson (not, not that one).

There was no misconduct or anything beyond an interference call on Zary, and he continued to play the rest of the game, however his actions warrant a second look from the league.

He has no history of suspensions, so it's more than likely if he does get any punishment, it will be for anywhere between 1-3 games. It's also highly possible he gets a slap on the wrist in terms of a fine; a pretty bad look on the NHL to let this slide.

Zary, in his second year after debuting last season with the Flames, has 24 points in 48 games (12G, 12A) with a minus-6 rating. He was drafted 24th overall in 2020.

He doesn't have a reputation of being a dirty player by any means, and though it was a clear headshot, emotions get the best of everyone at times (though it does not excuse his actions whatsoever).

We won't have an idea about a suspension or any type of punishment until either mid-afternoon Thursday or on Friday, and there's no reason why the league wouldn't take a look at the play.

Calgary's next game is Friday against the Colorado Avalanche, so he may potentially be absent against the new look Avs. Vancouver doesn't play until Saturday vs. Chicago.