Boston Bruins forward Brad Marchand was suspended for six games by the NHL on Wednesday for his actions in the final minute of a 4-2 home loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins the previous night.
The league ruled that Marchand was guilty of roughing and high-sticking Penguins goaltender Tristan Jarry after play had been stopped. The punishment was more severe because Marchand was treated as a repeat violator under terms of the NHL Collective Bargaining Agreement. This was the eighth suspension of his career and the second this season; he received a three-game suspension in November for slew-footing Vancouver Canucks defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson.
Marchand has now been suspended for a total of 28 games during his 13-year career. Based on his average annual salary, Marchand will forfeit $448,170.72, with the money going to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.
Marchand had a hearing via Zoom with the NHL Department of Player Safety before the suspension was announced.
The ban will begin Thursday when the Bruins host the Carolina Hurricanes.
Marchand punched Jarry in the head during a scrum in front of the Pittsburgh net with 25 seconds left. Later, while being restrained by an official, the 33-year-old forward shoved his stick into Jarry’s mask.
Marchand was assessed a match penalty and a minor penalty for roughing. The match penalty triggered an automatic suspension, pending a review by NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman.
“Honestly, a lack of discipline, obviously, on Brad’s part in that situation,” Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy said after the game. “I just watched the replay at the end. It looks like some words were exchanged. I don’t know if there was an incident at the end of the second (period) that precipitated that. I was in the room, so I don’t know. Someone said that. Still, you’ve got to have better discipline at the end of the day. Brad’s a leader on our team, and he’s got to control his emotions.”
The incident at the end of the second period that Cassidy referenced occurred when Jarry attempted to give a puck to a Penguins fan in the Boston crowd. Marchand skated over and knocked it off Jarry’s stick.
Marchand did not speak to reporters after the game. Jarry said it was “part of the game.”
“I think it just stays on the ice,” he added.
Marchand leads Boston with 49 points (21 goals, 28 assists) in 39 games. He has 764 points (340 goals, 424 assists) and 864 penalty minutes in 843 career games with the Bruins.
–Field Level Media
