Jake Guentzel is apparently off the hook.
The Pittsburgh Penguins forward will not face a hearing to answer for his check on Washington Capitals defenseman John Carlson in Game 5 of their second-round series Saturday night, The Washington Post's Isabelle Khurshudyan reported Sunday, adding that it was considered a full-body hit.
Guentzel caught Carlson up high behind the Capitals' net with the Penguins trailing 5-3 late in a game they ultimately lost 6-3.
Here is the video of the hit on Carlson @ianoland @russianmachine pic.twitter.com/38K6nyIZCD
— Domenic Allegra #ButlerDidIt (@DomenicAllegra) May 6, 2018
Carlson went to the bench after absorbing the hit, and the club said postgame that he was being evaluated.
Capitals head coach Barry Trotz called it a headshot but stopped short of saying it was suspension-worthy, stating he'd "leave it up to the league."
