The NHL suspended Boston Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy for six regular-season games without pay next season for slashing Buffalo’s Zach Benson during the final moments of the Sabres’ playoff series-clinching win on May 1.
The league’s Department of Player Safety made the announcement on Tuesday, one day after an in-person meeting at NHL headquarters in New York. That hearing gave the league the option of a suspension longer than five games.
The incident with 1:31 left in the third period occurred after Benson tripped McAvoy as the two chased after a loose puck and crashed into the end boards. McAvoy got up, charged toward the Sabres forward and swung his stick like a baseball bat, hitting Benson in the midsection.
McAvoy was given a five-minute major for slashing and a game misconduct, while Benson received a two-minute minor for tripping.
The Sabres went on to win the game 4-1 and capture the best-of-seven Eastern Conference first-round series 4-2 to end the Bruins’ season.
McAvoy, who can appeal the punishment, was suspended twice and fined once previously in his nine-year NHL career.
The 28-year-old had a career-high 61 points with 11 goals and 62 penalty minutes in 69 games this season. He had two assists in the series against Buffalo.
Overall, McAvoy has 71 goals, 361 points and 491 penalty minutes in 573 games over nine seasons all with the Bruins. He has six goals, 50 points and 103 penalty minutes in 97 career playoff games.
