The NHL Department of Player Safety has announced that Caps defender Kevin Shattenkirk will have a hearing to discuss his hit on Kings defender Kevin Gravel in third period of Saturday night’s game.

It could be Shattenkirk’s first suspension.

Late in the third, with the Caps trailing by one, Shattenkirk lined up and hit Gravel behind the Kings net. Shattenkirk got air time and made contact with Gravel’s head.

Gravel played the rest of the game.

This morning we learned that there may be supplemental discipline.

Washington’s Kevin Shattenkirk will have a hearing this afternoon for charging Los Angeles’ Kevin Gravel.

— NHL Player Safety (@NHLPlayerSafety) March 12, 2017

It’s the first hearing for a Caps player this season. Shattenkirk does not have a history of supplemental discipline.

That hearing will have to happen soon. The Caps play in Anaheim at 9:45 PM tonight, the final game of a miserable slog through California.

Finally, this is a photo of Nate Schmidt:

Full Coverage of Caps at Kings