Flames veteran Dennis Wideman sends linesman onto ice with hit
— -- Calgary Flames veteran defenseman Dennis Wideman could be facing NHL discipline after cross checking a linesman during the team's 2-1 home loss to the Nashville Predators on Wednesday night.
Wideman told reporters after the game that the hit was unintentional.
Wideman had just taken a hit from Nashville winger Miikka Salomaki and was skating toward the Flames bench when he leveled linesman Don Henderson from behind, sending him to the ice and against the boards.
Wideman was not penalized for the move, which occurred midway through the second period with the Predators leading 1-0.
It wasn't immediately clear whether Wideman intentionally hit the referee or mistook him for another player after being hit by Salomaki.
If Wideman is determined to have hit Henderson intentionally, he will be subject to a suspension of no less than 20 games for deliberately attempting to injure an official, per the NHL rulebook.
At the next stoppage, it appeared Wideman skated over to where the officials were gathered -- but Henderson didn't stick around, quickly skating away.
Wideman, 32, is in his fourth season with the Flames and 11th in the NHL. He is second on the team in penalty minutes with 30, and has two goals and 19 points this season.
He entered the game with 94 career goals, 275 assists and 471 penalty minutes.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
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