Kennedy's Actions Still Under Review

The most recent news on the Leaf's request for the NHL to review Kennedy's actions during last Saturday's game and what transpired prior to his fight with Luke Schenn is that it's still being reviewed after they concluded there was a reason to investigate the incident.

Toronto requested the review "claiming Kennedy left the Penguins bench and instigated a fight with Leafs defender Luke Schenn after the Schenn levelled Evgeni Malkin with a hit."

According to Toronto's TheStar.com, Kennedy could be penalized by a suspension lasting as much as 10 games should they find him guilty

TheStar.com is also reporting that there will probably be a hearing with the possibility of it being held sometime today in Toronto and that the decision will likely be announced before the Penguins game tomorrow in Montreal (the NHL's chief of disciplinarian, Colin Campbell, has a hearing already scheduled for today).

Many sources have reported that they have not received a response from the Penguins in regards to any comments on the current situation. According to Shelly Anderson of the PPG this morning, "the Penguins could have an argument that they were in the midst of a line change. The hit on Malkin, an ensuing scrum and the beginning of the fight happened in front of the Penguins' bench."

And, honestly, that's how I saw it - it was a line change and Kennedy never had any intentions or premeditation for specifically coming off the bench to instigate the fight. I believe he was coming onto the ice during the line change and wanted to defend his fellow player [Malkin] after Schenn hit him into the boards in front of the Penguins bench (and he happened to be close enough to have it appear suspicious). It'll be interesting to see the league's interpretation. If they see fit to suspend Kennedy, it will definitely be another hurdle the Penguins will have to overcome.