Panthers F Jesse Puljujarvi to have hearing after headshot

Florida Panthers forward Jesse Puljujarvi is set for a disciplinary hearing with the NHL on Thursday after being assessed a match penalty for his illegal check to the head of Tampa Bay Lightning winger Mitchell Chaffee on Tuesday night.

Puljujarvi's hit on Chaffee came with 11:32 remaining in the third period. Chaffee took the puck in the offensive zone before being blindsided with a shoulder to the head by Puljujarvi. Chaffee crumbled to the ice as a scrum ensued between the teams. Panthers forward Nico Sturm and Lightning forward Zemgus Girgensons dropped the gloves.

The Panthers lost 5-1 in their final regular-season game. Any suspension the league doles out will result in Puljujarvi missing the start of the playoffs.

Puljujarvi, 26, was playing in just his fifth game with the Panthers after joining the team's AHL club on a professional tryout in February. He played in 26 games for the Pittsburgh Penguins before having his contract terminated. He has 10 points (four goals, six assists) on the season in 31 games.

The former No. 4 overall pick of Edmonton in the 2016 draft has 128 points (58 goals, 70 assists) in 387 career games with the Edmonton Oilers (2016-23), Carolina Hurricanes (2023), Penguins (2023-25) and Panthers.