Alex Burrows, Canucks forward, avoids Game 4 suspension

Vancouver Canucks forward Alex Burrows will not be suspended for Game 4 of their first round playoff series against the Calgary Flames.

Burrows received an instigator penalty for a fight against Flames defenceman Kris Russell with less than two minutes remaining in Sunday's match.

Any instigator penalty in the last five minutes of a game carries an automatic suspension, as outlined by Rule 46.22:

Upon review of the incident, the Director of Hockey Operations, at his discretion, deems the incident is not related to the score, previous incidents in the game or prior games, retaliatory in nature, "message sending."

It is the second time this series that a suspension relating to this rule has been overturned. The NHL rescinded a similar penalty awarded to Flames defenceman Deryk Engelland in the final five minutes of Game 2 on Friday night
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