Bruins right wing David Backes will have a hearing Friday for his check to the head of New Jersey’s Blake Coleman in the Bruins’ 5-2 loss Thursday night, the NHL Department of Player Safety announced.
Late in the game, with the Bruins trailing 4-2 and skating with an empty net, Coleman gathered a loose puck and attempted to fire it down ice when Backes skated in from his right and landed an elbow to Coleman’s head.
Backes was assessed a minor penalty for an illegal check to the head, but could face a suspension today, which could cause him to miss next Wednesday’s Winter Classic, when the Bruins will face the Chicago Blackhawks at Notre Dame Stadium.