Nashville Predators' Colton Sissons not suspended, can play in Game 6

The NHL announced Friday the league will not suspend Nashville Predators center Colton Sissons for the match penalty assessed to him, and he will be allowed to play in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final.

Sissons cross-checked Penguins defenseman Olli Maatta's face inside the final minute of the Predators' 6-0 loss in Game 5 on Thursday night in Pittsburgh.

Sissons was given a match penalty, triggering an automatic review by the league.

The Department of Player Safety conducted a review of the incident, and now Sissons will be eligible to play in Game 6 on Sunday night at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville.

"Having completed its automatic review of an incident in Game 5, D.O.P.S. has decided that Colton Sissons will not be suspended for Game 6," NHL Player Safety announced on Twitter.

Officials dispensed 90 total penalty minutes during the third period, including 10 from Sissons' scuffle with Maatta. The two exchanged multiple cross-checks and Sissons' stick raked Maatta's nose.

"I watched it play out," Predators coach Peter Laviolette told reporters after Thursday night's loss gave the Penguins a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series. "I saw Maatta cross-check him. Colton cross-checked him back. Maatta cross-checked him again, and it looked like they were doing it somewhere in the midsection. On the last one, Maatta seemed to slip and his head dropped. I don't think that there was any intention there whatsoever."