The NHL's Department of Player Safety has handed down a three-game suspension to Florida Panthers forward A.J. Greer following a boarding incident involving Calgary Flames forward Connor Zary.
This incident unfolded during the third period of the Flames' 4-1 victory over the Panthers. As the two chased a loose puck into the Florida zone, Greer initially hooked Zary.
Once Zary managed to break free and regain his balance, Greer delivered a forceful two-handed shove to Zary's back. The impact sent Zary crashing into the boards, where he lay momentarily before slowly getting to his feet.
The Department of Player Safety pointed to the reckless nature of the hit, Greer's control over the sequence of events, and his prior disciplinary record-which includes a fine and a suspension-as factors in their decision to suspend him for three games.
During the game, Greer was assessed a five-minute major penalty and a 10-minute game misconduct for the boarding, along with a two-minute minor for the initial hook. The Flames capitalized on the power play, scoring twice to extend their lead and secure the win. Notably, Greer had scored the Panthers' only goal of the night just seven minutes before the incident.
This season has been Greer's most productive in the NHL, with career-highs of 13 goals and 24 points over 68 games, along with tying his career-best of 11 assists. However, his 17 penalty minutes from this game contribute to a total of 109 for the season, placing him third in the league for penalty minutes.