Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy has been suspended four games for an illegal check to the head against Panthers defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson in Monday night’s overtime win, the NHL Department of Player Safety said today. McAvoy faced a phone hearing earlier today.
This is the third suspension of the 2023-24 regular season and the fourth to stretch into the regular season. Flames defenseman Rasmus Andersson is just now gearing up to return from a four-game suspension for charging (and injuring) Blue Jackets forward Patrik Laine, while Kings winger Arthur Kaliyev served a four-game suspension split evenly between the preseason and regular season earlier this month. Sabres defenseman Connor Clifton was also assessed a two-game penalty.
In a video explanation for the suspension, NHL DoPS gave the following explanation for the suspension:
It is important to note that both elements of the Illegal Check to the Head rule are satisfied on this play. First, the head is the main point of contact, as McAvoy makes direct, forceful contact with Ekman-Larsson’s head, and it is the head that absorbs the majority of the force of the check. Second, the head contact on this play is avoidable. McAvoy chooses an angle of approach that cuts across the front of Ekman-Larsson’s body, missing his core and picking his head. If McAvoy wants to deliver this hit, he must stay low and choose an angle that hits through Ekman-Larsson’s shoulder and core, rather than one that makes the head the main point of contact.
McAvoy was assessed a match penalty on the play, which occurred with over ten minutes remaining in regulation and just a few minutes after McAvoy had scored the game-tying goal, by on-ice officials. While not a late hit by league standards, Ekman-Larsson did not have possession of the puck when the collision occurred, and McAvoy’s shoulder area contacted Ekman-Larsson’s face and jaw, swinging his head to the side with force. Ekman-Larsson did not return to the game.
McAvoy’s history with DoPS influenced the length of the suspension. He missed a game during the Bruins’ run to the 2019 Stanley Cup Final due to a suspension, also for an illegal check to the head.
This now means the Bruins will be without their top defense pair for the next couple of games, at least. Matt Grzelcyk left the Florida game due to an upper-body injury and is expected to miss a handful of games. That means a recall is likely for top defense prospect Mason Lohrei, who would make his NHL debut at home against the Maple Leafs on Thursday.
McAvoy deserves at least 4 games as that was a blatant cheapshot!
The coach should be fined too, Boston’s players were deliberately trying to injure all night. Probably 5 sticks to the face at a minimum, including a check to the face. And way too many missed calls. That doesn’t happen by accident.
4 games is too few for an obvious intent to injure someone’s head meters away from the puck.
That’s rich considering the Panthers have 2 of the worst cheap shot artists in Tkachuk and Bennett.
I wouldn’t call either of them cheap shot artists. Bennett is a straight physical player. Tkachuk plays with an edge on the edge, but not cheap.
This comment screams of Salty leafs fan due to last year’s exit from the playoffs. The Knies hit was 2 guys tangled up, and yes the cross check to Bunting was a cheap shot.
1 time does not make someone a cheap shot artist.
Easy killer. Are you upset that FL lost the game or something? FINE THE WHOLE ORGANIZATION! THEY ARE OUT TO KILL PEOPLE!
Clown.
Someone didn’t watch the game and it shows.
Parros must be on holidays.
Probably appeal it and cuz it’s the Bruins and an American team Gary will give him 2 games
Player safety at an all time high! Hit a guy in the head? 4 games. But put 5 bucks down on the Moneyline for the Celtics? Half a season. What is going on in sports?!?!?
It was a very late, very cheap hit to a guy who wasn’t even on the team that beat the Bruins in the playoffs last year. It is the type of cheap hit that hockey needs to eliminate. I hope that Ek is able to recover from the head injury the cheap hit caused.