St. Louis Blues forward Maxim Lapierre has been given the option of an in-person hearing by the NHL Department of Player Safety, according to Renaud Lavoie on Wednesday morning.

The hearing is directly related to the hit Lapierre delivered to San Jose Sharks defenseman Dan Boyle during Tuesday night's game. Lapierre hit Boyle from behind, which resulted in a five-minute boarding major and a game misconduct. Boyle was carted off the ice via stretcher and did not return to the game.





The in-person invitation allows the Department of Player Safety to issue Lapierre a suspension in excess of six-games if they wish to do so. The hearing will take place on Friday, according to Lavoie.

Lapierre was suspended four games in March of 2010 for hitting Scott Nichol from behind.

The Department of Player Safety issued an in-person hearing to Buffalo Sabres forward Patrick Kaleta, which resulted in a 10-game suspension.

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