BOSTON -- With 11:30 left in the third period of the Bruins' 4-3 overtime win over Montreal in Game 7, Bruins defenseman Andrew Ference and Canadiens forward Jeff Halpern had an open-ice collision in which Ference's shoulder made contact with Halpern's head.

Halpern lay on the ice dazed and did not return to the game for approximately nine minutes. The play was eerily similar to David Steckel's shoulder to the head of Sidney Crosby in the Winter Classic.

Ference had a disciplinary hearing with the NHL via telephone at 11 a.m. ET Thursday. The team announced that Ference was not suspended.