The Boston Bruins were triumphant last night and moved on to the Eastern Conference Finals, but they’ll have to battle the Carolina Hurricanes a man down. Charlie McAvoy will have a disciplinary hearing to determine a suspension for his hit on Columbus Blue Jackets forward Josh Anderson last night. McAvoy was given a two minute minor penalty for an illegal check to the head, but is expected to receive supplementary discipline.
McAvoy has been a force for Boston in these playoffs, averaging nearly 25 minutes a night while often taking on the other team’s best forwards. The 21-year old defenseman has added six points in 13 games, and has 30 hits including several of the devastating variety. In trying to lay another one of those big hits, he caught Anderson’s chin forcefully which snapped the Blue Jackets forward’s head around—the usual telling sign for the Department of Player Safety.
The league usually specifies if the hearing is of the in-person variety, meaning McAvoy is likely looking at a suspension of fewer than five games. He has never been suspended or fined in his career, which will have a positive impact on the decision.
this is where if the NHL was serious about player safety they would give out 5 minute majors for any cross check, elbow or hit to the head. they give out 5 minute majors for fighting already so not sure what the difference is.
Football may not have educated players but they at least punish headshots more severely. does it mean accidental contact to the head gets penalized? Sure but who cares.
Columbus got robbed of a five minute major last night. The NHL needs to be able to review plays like this. It’s pretty ridiculous that they don’t. It’s now directly impacted teams on both sides of the call who can at least partially blame it on why they’re at home right now.
Their at home because of one play? Should have been 5 alright, but they got nothing in the 8 minutes of pp time in game, and nothing in last 10 pp they had in last 3 games, and you say they are out because if they had 3 more minutes in game 6 they would be headed to game 7. Really?
What a joke this league has become. The Bruins player has no clue where that players head is when he makes that hit because there was another player between him and Anderson. What is this league becoming? It’s becoming a total cluster F. Bruins player never lifts his arm while making the hit, so there was no intent to injure or take his head off. If there was one or both I’m sure the Bruin would have lifted his elbow while making the solid hit. Why is it always the player tried to hit opponent in the head. What a bunch of BS, if he wanted to hurt him and hit him in the head on purpose all he had to do was lift his elbow, IF THAT HAPPENED THEN HE SHOULD AND WOULD BE SUSPENDED FOR A 1-3 GAMES.
That isn’t the case here. Most people thought nothing at all would happen. And that’s what should happen, NOTHING. But these idiots seem to always stick there heads when they have no reason to. How can Chris Pronger actually be in this P/S Board???? He will always go down as one of the dirtiest and hurtful player EVER to play the game, and the Bright Lights in the NHL think he should be in this group of idiots. TYPICAL NHL, WE ALL KNOW THE GAME ISNT PERFECT, BUT WAIT, WERE GOING TO MAKE IT WORSE, JUST WAIT AND SEE.
No wonder they can’t seem to add fans year after year, I’ve had enough and I love this sport. Keep getting thing wrong NHL, pretty soon everyone will turn you off. It’s getting close now. Have you seen the ratings lately??? Not good at all.
Ask SJ how vital a 5 min PP in a closing game is
Should have been a double minor at the very least and I say this as a Bruins fan. While I do think his elbow stayed down and the contact is initiated to the body Anderson’s head is in a dangerous position and McAvoy needed to pull up. That said the league has set a precedent that without an injury being sustained during the play and McAvoy not really having a history of being dirty that he’s unlikely to be suspended. The only concern is the lenient call on the ice.
so player safety means nothing to you cfol?
I literally said partially to blame. I didn’t say it’s the reason. That’s true
Correct call, no evidence for a match. The rule however should be reviewed.
Making cross checking, an elbow to the head, or a hit to the head 5 minute majors aren’t going to decrease these type of hits.
These hits are a product of the speed of the game. Statistics have shown that with the elimination of the two line pass not only has speed increased, but vicious hits as well.
Slow motion replays for these type of incidents are stupid b/c the game isn’t played in slow motion. When these things are happening real time it’s all in split second. It’s easy to say someone shouldn’t have raised an elbow or whatever but it’s a reaction…and everyone has different reactions.
If they’re truly concerned about the safety they will make the game slower (bring back two line pass) but they care more about offense and scoring.