Will Flyers’ Harry Zolnierczyk escape NHL punishment after latest game misconduct? (UPDATE: he won’t)

Harry Zolnierczyk got lucky earlier this week. The Philadelphia Flyers forward was given a kneeing major and game misconduct on Wednesday for his hit on Mathieu Perreault of the Washington Capitals. Upon further review, the NHL rescinded the penalty after replays showed Zolnierczyk got Perreault in the upper leg/hip area and not the knee.

After today's game against the Ottawa Senators, Zolnierczyk might not be as fortunate when the NHL reviews his latest game misconduct.

Midway through the first period, Zolnierczyk launched himself into Mike Lundin as the Senators forward was cutting into the Flyers' zone:

Zolnierczyk was given five for charging and a game misconduct. Lundin did not return after suffering a concussion.

So now the question that Brendan Shanahan and the Department of Player Safety will be asking is if Zolnierczyk left his feet to deliver the hit and whether or not Lundin's head the principle point of contact. It doesn't look like the head was targeted or the focus of the contact, but Zolnierczyk does leave his feet to make the hit and that will likely be what earns him a call with the NHL.

UPDATE: The love didn't stop there as late in the third period Senators captain Daniel Alfredsson was given a five-minute major for cross-checking and a game misconduct after taking his aggression out on Zac Rinaldo.

UPDATE: 4:45 p.m.: Sportsnet's John Shannon reports that Zolnierczyk will have a hearing with the NHL on Sunday.

Follow Sean Leahy on Twitter at @Sean_Leahy