Stars' Ryan Garbutt faces in-person hearing

Mike Brehm | USA TODAY Sports

The NHL's Department of Player Safety watches every game and clips all incidences of wayward hits to determine if a hearing is warranted.

But Anaheim Ducks winger Dustin Penner, knocked out of a game by a Ryan Garbutt check, went on social media to bring attention to the Dallas Stars player's hit.

"To whom it may concern.....black & white vertical stripes.Orange horizontal stripe) Might of been 2 min minor??" he tweeted after the game with a link to the YouTube video.

Penner was merely pointing out to referees that the check went unpenalized, but the league announced on Monday that Garbutt has been offered an in-person hearing.

That means he faces the potential of a suspension of six games or more, though that doesn't mean it will be that long.

Garbutt, who scored his first goal of the season earlier in the game, had just finished serving a penalty when he skated toward Penner, who had the puck. Penner passed to Corey Perry in front of the Stars' net and Garbutt left his feet and caught Penner in the head with his shoulder.

The NHL said it would be looking at Garbutt for charging and illegal hit to the head.

Penner didn't return to the game.

But Penner, who maintains an active Twitter account and once let the world know he suffered back spasms while eating pancakes, was on social media on Monday morning, answering questions and criticisms about the posted video.

Again thx for all the well wishes. As for feeding the trolls. I'm just compiling a list of people whose brains should be donated to science," he tweeted.

A hearing date hasn't been scheduled for Garbutt.