In a recent NHL game, Florida Panthers forward A.J. Greer received a five-minute major penalty and a game misconduct for a collision involving Calgary Flames player Connor Zary. This incident occurred during the third period at the Scotiabank Saddledome, where Greer checked Zary from behind.
A.J. Greer’s Penalty Details
Greer, 29, had earlier scored the Panthers’ only goal of the game. However, his aggressive play led to him being penalized a total of 17 minutes, culminating in his ejection at the 11:14 mark of the final frame.
- Initial penalty: Hooking on Zary
- Major penalty: Interference for pushing Zary into the boards
- Ejection: After a brief review post-scrum
As Zary remained injured on the ice, Flames players swiftly retaliated against Greer. Although he was sent to the penalty box, the review from officials led to his expulsion from the match, granting the Flames a seven-minute power play.
Game Impact
Following Greer’s penalty, additional minor penalties were issued to both teams. Notably, Florida defender Niko Mikkola exited the game due to injury. On the resulting power play, Flames center Morgan Frost scored at 16:59 of the third period, with assists from Sharangovich and Zayne Parekh. Just 31 seconds later, teammate Matt Coronato added another goal, aided by Matvei Gridin and Blake Coleman, extending the Flames’ lead to 4-1.
Coaches Weigh In
Flames head coach Ryan Huska expressed strong disapproval of Greer’s actions. He referred to the hit as “awful” and stated, “It just shouldn’t happen when someone’s in that position.” Nonetheless, Huska did not provide an update on Zary’s condition post-game.
A.J. Greer’s Career Overview
Before his time with the Panthers, Greer played for the Flames during the 2023-24 season, after being claimed off waivers from the Boston Bruins. Standing at 6’3″, he appeared in 59 games, tallying six goals and 12 points. In 2024, Greer signed a two-year deal with the Panthers as a free agent.
This season has seen Greer achieving career highs with 13 goals and 24 points in 68 games. Over his NHL career, spreading across nine seasons with five different teams, Greer has notched 32 goals and 73 points in 316 games and contributed two goals and three points in 16 playoff contests.
