Boston Bruins Defenseman Charlie McAvoy Suspended
In a significant disciplinary action, Boston Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy has received a six-game suspension that will carry over into the start of the next NHL season, following a slashing incident involving Zach Benson of the Buffalo Sabres. This decision emerged on May 11, stemming from a heated altercation during a playoff match on May 1, in which the Sabres secured their series victory against the Bruins.
Details of the Incident
The incident occurred late in the game when Benson executed a slew foot maneuver that tripped McAvoy, resulting in a two-minute penalty for Benson. In retaliation, McAvoy retaliated with a fierce baseball-style swing aimed at Benson, leading to a five-minute major penalty and a game misconduct for the Bruins’ defenseman.
Consequences and Previous Suspensions
Due to the severity of the offense, McAvoy was granted the option for an in-person hearing, which left open the potential for a suspension of six games or more, as dictated by the NHL’s Player Safety Department. This marks the third suspension of McAvoy’s career, having previously faced a one-game ban during the 2019 playoffs for a head-check violation and a four-game suspension in 2023 for a similar infraction.
McAvoy’s Season Highlights
Despite this setback, McAvoy had an impressive season, contributing to Team USA’s Olympic gold medal win in Milan, overcoming a challenging recovery from a serious shoulder injury sustained at the previous season’s 4 Nations Face-Off. He also endured additional setbacks this past November, losing teeth and fracturing his jaw after being struck by a puck.
Additional Fines Imposed
In light of these events, the NHL Player Safety also imposed fines on two players following Game 3 of the Montreal-Buffalo series: Beck Malenstyn from Buffalo received a penalty of $3,515.63 for goalie interference, while Montreal’s Arber Xhekaj was fined $3,385.42 for roughing Buffalo’s Sam Carrick.
This article originally appeared in USA TODAY.
