Flames’ Martin Pospisil suspended three games for boarding Kraken’s Vince Dunn

The 24-year-old Pospisil had a hearing earlier in the day that Player Safety announced on Tuesday would happen. The incident occurred with just over five minutes to go in regulation during the Flames and Kraken’s Monday contest in Calgary.

Pospisil hit Dunn from behind, causing Dunn to crash in the end boards and leaving the ice in discomfort.

Kraken head coach Dave Hakstol called the hit “garbage” in a post-game interview following Monday’s game. The Kraken won 4-2 over the Flames.

Pospisil is in the midst of his rookie NHL season, scoring six goals and nine assists for 15 points and 72 penalty minutes in 45 games. The native of Zvolen, Slovakia has played parts of five seasons with both the AHL’s Stockton Heat and Calgary Wranglers, scoring 22 goals and 40 assists for 62 points in 113 career games.

Drafted in the fourth round by the Flames in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft, he spent two seasons with the USHL’s Sioux City Musketeers. In 2017-18, he scored eight goals and 29 assists for 37 points and 253 penalty minutes. The next season after being drafted by the Flames, he scored 16 goals and 47 assists for 63 points and 118 penalty minutes.

Calgary is currently 30-26-5 with 65 points through 61 games and sits fifth in the Pacific Division. The Flames will play the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday one day before the 2024 NHL Trade Deadline.