Sharks’ Raffi Torres could get suspension of more than five games

Fallout Wednesday from the hit San Jose’s Raffi Torres put on the Kings’ Jarret Stoll in Game 1 of their teams’ Western Conference semifinal series Tuesday was considerable.

The NHL has requested an in-person hearing, which means a suspension could be more than five games. That isn’t always necessarily the case, but it looms as a possibility. Nick Kypreos of Canada’s Sportsnet first reported the league’s request, and individuals familiar with the process said the information was accurate.

If there was merely going to be a telephone hearing in the matter, the league would have made an announcement today.

Torres could have waived his right to an in-person hearing, but Kypreos tweeted that the winger is “expected” to be in New York for a league hearing on Thursday.

[Updated 1:14 p.m. PDT May 15: The Sharks have also confirmed that Torres is going to New York City for a hearing on Thursday, according to the San Jose Mercury News.]

Other factors: Stoll did not return to the game and his series availability is in question. Torres, of course, is a repeat offender, and most notably served a 21-game suspension for his hit on Chicago’s Marian Hossa in the first round of the playoffs last year when Torres was with the Phoenix Coyotes.

Torres delivered a hard hit on Stoll late in the second period of the Kings’ 2-0 victory. The San Jose left winger was called for a charging penalty.

Kings Coach Darryl Sutter would not comment on the extent of Stoll’s injury after the game, simply saying of the center’s third-period absence, “We weren’t resting him and he didn’t come back.

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