Calgary Flames forward Connor Zary has been suspended two games for elbowing following a hit in Wednesday night’s matchup against the Vancouver Canucks.
NHL Player Safety announced the suspension Thursday, saying Zary extended his elbow to “deliver a late, high, retaliatory hit” against Canucks defender Elias Pettersson in the first period.
The incident occurred after Pettersson hit Nazem Kadri as he crossed over the blue line.
“Then after the hit, and disregarding the rest of the play, Zary tracks Pettersson, raises his elbow and forearm, and elevates upward into a check, striking Pettersson with the extended arm and making significant contact with Pettersson’s head,” the NHL’s Department of Player Safety said in a video posted to its website.
“On this play, Zary sees a teammate take a hard but legal check and responds intentionally in retribution by delivering a hit with his extended elbow that makes significant head contact and is delivered with requisite force for supplemental discipline.”
Zary was assessed a two-minute minor for interference.
The Flames went on to lose the game 4-3 in a shootout.
After Wednesday night’s contest, the Flames sit in the final Western Conference wild-card playoff spot. They are tied with Vancouver, with 71 points, but have one game at hand.
Their next two games are against the Colorado Avalanche at home on Friday, then heading to Toronto to face off against the Maple Leafs on Saturday.
On the season, Zary has 12 goals and 12 assists through 49 games.
Calgary’s Connor Zary has been suspended for two games for elbowing against Vancouver’s Elias Pettersson. https://t.co/ciPdENqdjW
— NHL Player Safety (@NHLPlayerSafety) March 13, 2025
