Report: Coyotes’ Paul Bissonnette potentially facing 10-game suspension

The Phoenix Coyotes opened up the preseason Sunday night with a pair of split-squad victories over the Los Angeles Kings, including a 4-2 win at Jobing.com Arena.

While the Coyotes played rather well in front of the hometown fans, the game was not without incident.

Midway through the first period, Kings forward Jordan Nolan appeared to leave his feet before catching the head of Coyotes defenseman Rostislav Klesla on an open-ice hit. The collision sent Klesla to the ice, and he’d eventually have to be taken off on a stretcher.

Nolan was given a two-minute minor for roughing along with Martin Hanzal following the play.

But unhappy with the hit, Phoenix’s main enforcer, Paul Bissonnette, tried to take matters into his own hands.

When Nolan exited the penalty box, a scrum between the two teams broke out and Bissonnette — trying to get in on the action — left the Coyotes’ bench in an effort to engage the forward. For his refusal to stay on the bench, the fourth-liner was eventually given a game misconduct when order was restored.

And it seems that might be the least of Bissonnette’s problems.

As reported by TSN’s Bob McKenzie and Darren Dreger, by leaving the bench, the Coyotes forward might have violated Rule 70.10, which would force him to face an automatic 10-game suspension.

The NHL is currently reviewing the video from Sunday night’s game.

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