Bruins’ McAvoy handed 6-game ban for slashing Sabers’ Benson
The NHL Department of Player Safety has suspended Boston Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy for six regular-season video games for slashing Buffalo Sabers ahead Zach Benson in Game 6 of their first-round playoff collection May 1.
The suspension was introduced Tuesday, in the future after McAvoy had an in-person listening to on the league workplaces in New York City
McAvoy will serve the suspension initially of the 2026-27 season. He and the National Hockey League Players’ Association can enchantment the ban to NHL commissioner Gary Bettman; if essential, they’ll additional enchantment to a impartial arbitrator as a result of the suspension is bigger than 5 video games.
The slashing penalty was known as with 1:31 left within the recreation, with the Sabers main 4-1 whereas holding a 3-2 collection lead. As McAvoy skated again for an icing name, Benson tripped him together with his left leg, sending McAvoy crashing into the tip boards. McAvoy obtained up, skated over by means of his teammates and delivered a two-handed slash throughout Benson’s torso. McAvoy was given a five-minute main for slashing, which carries an computerized recreation misconduct. Benson was whistled for a minor penalty for tripping.
“All parties agree that this is an intentional and forceful strike delivered to an opponent’s body specifically for the purpose of retribution and message sending,” the NHL mentioned in its ruling. “In addition, all parties agree that this play occurs outside of current gameplay and in a situation where the outcome of the game and the series had been decided.”
Despite McAvoy and the NHLPA arguing that Benson slew-footed McAvoy to set him off, the NHL dominated that “players are not excused from illegal acts just because of a prior foul by an opponent.” The NHL additionally famous that McAvoy traveled a major distance to slash Benson.
McAvoy has two earlier suspensions in his profession: for one recreation in 2019 for an unlawful examine to the top of Josh Anderson of the Columbus Blue Jacketsand for 4 video games in 2023 for an unlawful examine to the top of Oliver Ekman-Larsson of the Florida Panthers. He has additionally been fined as soon as in his 573-game NHL profession.
The six-game suspension is the longest within the NHL since Minnesota Wild heart Ryan Hartman was banned for 10 video games in February 2025 for roughing Ottawa’s Tim Stutzle. That suspension was lowered to eight video games on enchantment to Bettman.
