Canucks' Alex Burrows escapes suspension after late fight in Game 3
Vancouver Canucks forward Alexandre Burrows has dodged a bullet.
The 34-year-old dropped the gloves with Calgary Flames defenseman Kris Russell near the end of Game 3 with the Flames up 4-2, which had some believing a suspension was imminent.
Burrows received an instigator penalty for the fight which occurred with 1:25 remaining in the game. According to rule 46.22 of the NHL Rulebook the play could have been suspendable by the league.
However, the NHL Department of Player Safety decided against giving Burrows any supplementary discipline after reviewing the play.
(1) Upon standard review mandated by Rule 46. 22, NHL has determined that VAN's Alex Burrows shall not be suspended for Game 4 vs. Calgary.
— NHL Player Safety (@NHLPlayerSafety) April 20, 2015
(2) Incident deemed "not related to the score, previous incidents in the game or prior games, retaliatory in nature, "message sending."
— NHL Player Safety (@NHLPlayerSafety) April 20, 2015
Burrows will be back in the lineup for Game 4 which goes Tuesday in Calgary. The Flames lead the series 2-1.