Rostislav Klesla to have NHL hearing

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Phoenix Coyotes defenseman Rostislav Klesla will have a disciplinary hearing Sunday for boarding Nashville Predators winger Matt Halischuk during the first period of Game 4 of the Western Conference semifinal Friday night.

The hearing will conducted by telephone on Sunday afternoon.

Klesla shoved Halischuk from behind into the boards directly in front of the Coyotes' bench at 6:39 of the first period. Replays showed Klesla appeared to grab Halischuk's jersey before pushing him into the boards.

Predators coach Barry Trotz called it a "dangerous" hit.

"I looked at it and it was a really dangerous hit in my eyes," Trotz said on a conference call Saturday. "How the referees or the league will view it, I can't really speak on that, but from my eyes and knowing from playing defense, drilling him when you do that whiplash effect of pulling the shirt and then driving him, it was really fortunate that Halischuk did sort of spin at the last moment."

Halischuk left the game for a short time but returned. Klesla received a two-minute penalty for boarding.

The Coyotes beat the Predators 1-0 Friday and lead the series 3-1 with Game 5 Monday night in Arizona.

Information from The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Pierre LeBrun

NHL

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• Covers the NHL for ESPN.com and TSN of Canada
• Six years on the "Hockey Night In Canada" Hotstove panel
• 13 years at The Canadian Press National News Agency