Source: Brandon Prust faces hearing

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New York Rangers winger Brandon Prust has a hearing with the NHL on Sunday after his second-period elbow to the back of New Jersey Devils defenseman Anton Volchenkov's head Saturday, a source told ESPNNewYork.com's Katie Strang.

Devils coach Peter DeBoer did not mince words when asked about the incident after his team lost 3-0 to the Rangers in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals.

"It's head-hunting, plain and simple," DeBoer said.

The elbow occurred 2:32 into the second period as Prust came over to check Volchenkov as the Devils defenseman was playing the puck out of the left corner in New Jersey's zone. Moments after Volchenkov moved the puck up the boards, Prust finished his hit and thrust his right elbow up, connecting with the back of Volchenkov's head.

Volchenkov went down to the ice, but no penalty was called. Volchenkov missed some time before returning to finish out the game.

"It's pretty dirty; it's an elbow to my head," Volchenkov said. "It's emotions maybe. He tried to hit me but missed a little bit and elbowed me in the head. It's hockey."

Asked if he was dizzy, Volchenkov responded: "It's not bad. It's good."

Prust denied that he intentionally aimed for the head.

"It definitely wasn't hard," Prust told the Bergen Record. "It wasn't my intention going into it. He kind of spun off and I didn't want him to cut in on me. It wasn't vicious at all."

Prust admitted the league likely would review the play.

"I'm sure they might. Like I said, there was no intent," Prust told the Record. "I didn't even think it was that hard. I didn't even feel it. I didn't even know I did it, really."

The Rangers lead the best-of-seven series 2-1. Game 4 is Monday night in Newark.

Information from ESPNNewYork.com's Mike Mazzeo and Katie Strang was used in this report.

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