Canadiens could lose him for Game 5 after likely Player Safety review: Zachary Bolduc

This is no longer just noise from an angry Sabres bench. It's a Player Safety file now.

The first-period scrum in Game 4 shows Bolduc tangled with Peyton Krebs after the whistle, with his skate motion becoming the whole flashpoint.

Krebs is down in the pile, Bolduc's leg comes through, and the reaction around the scrum tells you Buffalo saw it right away.

The rulebook doesn't leave much room. Rule 49.3 says a match penalty applies to any player who kicks or attempts to kick another player.

The second post turns the debate into a discipline question, not a fan argument, because the attached rule language is clear enough for every bench in the league.

The officials missed it live, so Bolduc stayed in the game. That's the pressure point for the NHL now.

Montreal lost Game 4 at the Bell Centre, and the series moved to 2-2 heading into Thursday at KeyBank Center.

Bolduc has 6 points in 11 playoff games and a plus-5 rating, which is not throwaway bottom-six production.

For St-Louis, the problem is usage. Remove Bolduc, and Montreal loses a forechecker who has been giving the Canadiens workable five-on-five minutes.

The league doesn't need to prove intent the way a courtroom would. It needs to decide whether the skate action meets the rule.

That's why this could swing from missed call to suspension fast. Game 5 is already a road test; now Montreal may have to dress a different look.