Vermette’s hearing may be Thursday

Ducks center Antoine Vermette is expected to have a hearing Thursday about his suspension for abuse of an official.

Vermette appealed the 10game suspension given to him for the incident of Feb.14, when he slapped his stick against a linesman after a faceoff against the Minnesota Wild. Vermette will meet with NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, who can uphold, increase or decrease the suspension. The matter could then go before an independent arbitrator. The Thursday date was reported by Sportsnet.

Vermette was given an automatic 10-game suspension, under the no-intent-toinjure category and already will have served four games of the suspension, the first of his 13-year career.

DUCKS TONIGHT

VS. BOSTON When: 7:30. On the air: TV: Prime Ticket; Radio: 830 Update: The Bruins are 4-0 since interim Coach Bruce Cassidy replaced the fired Claude Julien. Boston’s power play has scored 11 goals in the last nine games. The Ducks erased a 2-0 deficit in a 4-3 win at Boston on Dec.15. Willie O’ Ree, the first African American to play in the NHL and an ambassador for the league’s “Hockey Is for Everyone” inclusion initiative, will do the ceremonial puck drop.