Gionta ejected for spearing Senators' Borowiecki

New Jersey Devils forward Stephen Gionta could soon be hearing from the NHL's Department of Player Safety.

Gionta was given a five-minute major and a game misconduct Thursday for spearing Ottawa Senators defenseman Mark Borowiecki.

The ejection is a departure from Gionta's usual playing style, as the 32-year-old has only registered 52 penalty minutes in 194 career NHL games.

He admitted he was in the wrong in a conversation with reporters postgame.

"I just lost my cool, and that can't happen," he said, via Sportsnet. "I apologize to Mark for that play and obviously I let my teammates down with it. Luckily they bailed me out."