The Department of Player Safety has come down on Brad Marchand, issuing a two game suspension for his spear on Jake Dotchin Tuesday night. Marchand will be held out for the remainder of the regular season but—luckily for the Bruins—will be available for game one of the playoffs. This is Marchand’s fifth suspension of his career, while he has also been fined multiple times for dangerous plays.
There will be two very different reactions to this decision. One will point to the fact that Sidney Crosby received no supplementary discipline for a similar spear recently, with the other saying that these two games are meaningless because Boston has already clinched a playoff spot. While it is true the Crosby didn’t even get a hearing from the league for his incident with Ryan O’Reilly, it’s Marchand’s history and forcefulness that makes the punishment more severe. In the video explanation, the league seems to respond directly to the Crosby comparison:
What causes this play to rise to the level of supplemental discipline is the intent, the amount of force used, and Marchand’s substantial history of attacking the lower body of opponents. This is not incidental or inadvertent contact. This is not light contact that, while illegal, does not rise to the level of supplemental discipline.
While it can certainly be argued whether Crosby’s incident was “light contact” it’s clear the league found this much more violent. Regarding the idea that the next two games are meaningless, though the Bruins have locked up their positions the last two games could change where they finish dramatically. The Bruins will face off with the Ottawa Senators tonight, a team they are tied with just one point ahead of the Maple Leafs. Should the Bruins lose their final two games, it is very likely that they could finish in the second wildcard position and have to face the Washington Capitals—who just locked up the President’s Trophy—in the first round.
Because spearing is almost never punished with any supplementary discipline, it makes this case hard to compare. The penalty is basically entirely based on Marchand’s history, and as such two games can be seen as extreme or insignificant from different parties. In a year that has seen more criticism towards the DoPS decisions than usual, this will (hopefully) be the final chapter.
Crosby = NBC’s hero/loveboat
Marchand = NBC’s villain
NBC = NHL’s Commissariat
Ergo: Crosby not even penalized in the game! Marchand out for two.
No other interpretation possible.
It can be interpreted different. Doesn’t mean it’s correct but it can be.
If the NHL want to eliminate these sorts of incidents from the game, they need to hold all players to the same standard regardless of reputation (or lack thereof). They shouldn’t be allowing their poster boys to get away with dirty moves that would get Joe Schmo suspended. And yes, I realize that Marchand has a reputation, but this is a clear case of the NHL playing favorites.
The thing is that spears don’t get “Joe Schmo” suspended. They get fines. Marchand got this only because of his history with the DoPS.
Perhaps Marchand will lean his lesson when a Lightning player cripples him with a slash to the throat, next season. What a piece of human garbage is he. Perhaps worse than Susan Rice.
Spoken like a real piece of garbage
Love how Bruins fans don’t acknowledge how wrong Marchand’s actions were (plural since he also put his stick next to the face of Dotchin while he was lying on the ice); just point to someone else who didn’t get suspended. Almost as classy as the Bruins fans who booed Dotchin as he left the ice. Pathetic.
Love how you generalize all bruin fans. Pathetic. It’s a deserved 2 game suspension.
I’m a Bruins fan & Marchand deserved his ejection & the suspension. It was a stupid play & he suffered the consequences. Crosby didn’t suffer the consequences for his spear. Crosby didn’t even get a penalty for his spear. He didn’t get fined. Brandon Prust speared Marchand last season. He got a 5-minute major, a game-misconduct & a fine. Crosby didn’t even get a penalty. He speared an opposing player & should’ve been penalized. That’s a double standard
Your comment is the first I’ve seen anywhere that said he deserved it and then didn’t go on a long dissertation about Crosby. That’s what I based my observation.
Not a Bruins fan, but Marchand deserved the penalty/suspension he got. It probably would’ve been more if the Bruins weren’t in a playoff race honestly. And don’t get me wrong, I thought Crosby should’ve been suspended for his slash, but a slash and a spear are two completely different actions that warrant consequences. But I agree, there is a definite double standard for the Golden Boy and the rest of the league.