Brent Seabrook to have hearing with NHL for his hit on David Backes

Brent Seabrook is restrained by a referee after lying out David Backes. (Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images)

Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Brent Seabrook will have a phone hearing with the NHL for his hit on St. Louis Blues' David Backes in Game 2 of the first-round series.

Seabrook nailed Backes late in the third period of Saturday's game, while Backes did not have the pack and was in a vulnerable position. Seabrook was ejected and given five minutes for charging and game misconduct; Backes left the game and did not return.

The Blues tied the game with 6.4 seconds left in regulation, then won Game 2 in overtime.

Seabrook later said he didn't intend to for his hit to level Backes, according to Nicholas J. Cotsonika of Yahoo Sports.

"I thought the puck was there,” Seabrook said. “I was just coming down the wall, and I just tried to finish my hit. … I’m not trying to target his head, and I’m not trying to do anything like that. It doesn’t feel good to see a player lying there like that, knowing that I hit him. It wasn’t my intent.”