Jeff Skinner suspended for cross-check on Jake Guentzel

via buffalohockeybeat.com

On Friday, December 9, 2022, the Pittsburgh Penguins were in Buffalo taking on the Sabres, in a game that got chippy near the end. Following a whistle with 0:21 left in regulation of a game tied 3-3, Buffalo forwards Jeff Skinner and Pittsburgh forward Jake Guentzel started slashing each other back and forth. The tension between the two players escalated, and Skinner ended up cross-checking Guentzel in the face. Guentzel skated right to the Pittsburgh bench and went down the tunnel as his mouth was bleeding a lot.

The pair were given matching slashing penalties and Skinner received a five-minute major penalty that sent the Penguins to a five-minute powerplay with just 0:21 left in a tie game. The Penguins were set to be on the powerplay for 4:39 of the five-minute overtime period. It did not last that long though as just over a minute and a half into overtime, Jeff Carter scored to give the Penguins a 4-3 win.

Skinner was set to have a hearing with the NHL Department of Player Safety on Saturday where he would likely be facing a maximum of a five-game suspension and a $5,000 fine.

The Department of Player Safety did not give him the maximum penalty, but he is instead suspended from the Buffalo Sabres for three games.