The Bruins have began their season on a the longest level streak of their historical past at 8-0-1, however they’ll be hard-pressed to increase it with out their greatest defenseman for the following 4 video games.
That’s the punishment Charlie McAvoy obtained for his verify to the top of Oliver Ekman-Larson within the third interval B’s 3-2 extra time win over the Florida Panthers on Monday.
On the play in query, the B’s had been within the attacking zone when, properly after the Panthers’ defenseman had gotten rid of the puck from in entrance of the Florida web, McAvoy delivered a verify to the top of Ekman-Larson. McAvoy was assessed a match penalty on the play.
In the NHL’s video asserting the suspension, it’s identified that the top is the direct level of contact and that the top contact is avoidable.
McAvoy’s historical past was additionally taken into consideration. He was been fined by the league and suspended a recreation within the 2019 playoffs when he caught Columbus’ Josh Anderson with an unlawful verify to the top.
McAvoy has the choice to enchantment, however it will be heard by commissioner Gary Bettman, making it unlikely that it will be overturned. Calgary’s Rasmus Anderson appealed his four-game suspension for successful on Columbus’ Patrick Laine nevertheless it was upheld.
The suspension doesn’t come at a superb time for the B’s. Not solely was McAvoy enjoying his greatest hockey of the season in the previous couple of video games – he had tied the sport on Monday earlier within the interval – however the B’s had been already going to be shorthanded. Matt Grzelcyk had suffered an higher physique harm within the first interval of Monday’s recreation and is anticipated to overlook “a couple of weeks,” mentioned coach Jim Montgomery.
Ian Mitchell, who performed a few video games earlier within the season, is a candidate to return up and Montgomery mentioned first-year professional Mason Lohrei is as properly.
“(Lohrei ) is definitely one of the players we’d consider,” mentioned Montgomery. “I think he had a really good weekend (in Providence). We’re excited about the player because of what he did in camp, as probably you guys are.”
Lohrei has 4 assists in seven video games within the AHL whereas Mitchell has one helper in two video games with Providence. Mitchell additionally assisted on Matt Poitras’ first NHL recreation within the defenseman’s first stint with Boston.
The B’s have a troublesome schedule over the following 4 video games. They play the Maple Leafs’ high-powered offense on Thursday earlier than touring to Detroit on Saturday and Dallas on Monday. The final recreation of the suspension is a house recreation in opposition to the Islanders.
Source: www.bostonherald.com