Pronger case isn’t settled

The NHL is taking another look at an incident involving Ducks captain Chris Pronger in Wednesday night’s game against the Vancouver Canucks, which could result in a suspension of the star defenseman.

At issue is whether Pronger intentionally stepped on the left leg of Canucks center Ryan Kesler. Pronger initially appeared to have avoided any discipline by the league Thursday after it reviewed videotape of the play, which occurred during the second period of the Ducks’ 4-1 win.

A more conclusive angle, which was not provided until late Thursday night, led to the league’s course reversal.

“We viewed the incident the night that it happened but we did not have the isolation view until [Thursday] night around 10 p.m.,” said Mike Murphy, NHL vice president of hockey operations. “Once we saw it clearly and up close, our antennas went up.”

League spokesman Frank Brown said that a hearing has yet to be scheduled between its dean of discipline Colin Campbell and Pronger. If there is a hearing, Ducks General Manager Brian Burke is also expected to take part.

An announcement on Pronger’s status is expected to come prior to tonight’s home game against the St. Louis Blues.

“If supplemental discipline is deemed warranted, it virtually always is assessed before the offending players’ team plays its next game,” Brown said.

The latest footage was shown during the Canucks’ pay-per-view broadcast of their game against the Phoenix Coyotes on Thursday night. It was later shown in Canada on the regional Sportsnet network.

Sportsnet holds the broadcast rights to Canucks’ games.

“If we had a better view immediately, we would have dealt with the matter at that time,” Murphy said. “We are subject to what the TV feeds show and they did not show the isolation at that time.”

The Ducks, who had thought nothing would come of the incident, were a stunned group Friday.

“In the NHL, you can expect the unexpected,” Coach Randy Carlyle said. “And that’s what this is. From our standpoint, there was nothing until this morning.”

After the game, Kesler said Pronger’s intentions were clear.

“He stomped on me,” Kesler told the Vancouver Sun. “He got me on the calf.”

Carlyle said he hadn’t seen the play initially but offered his version of the events once he viewed the replays.

“Obviously it came from somewhere other than what we have,” he said. “We had our feed and it didn’t appear to show any of that. I guess the networks are running with it. It’s been provided by somebody in Vancouver.”

Pronger chose his words carefully as he spoke to reporters after practice. He said he did not find out about the review until he arrived at practice Friday. He said he received a text message Thursday night saying there would be no suspension.

“You know what, I don’t know what we’re going to do,” he said. “We’ve obviously got to see what happens and go through the review process.”

Pronger has been suspended seven times in his 14-year career.

Times staff writer Helene Elliott contributed to this report.

eric.stephens@latimes.com