Brad Marchand has been suspended for six games, as made official by the NHL Department of Player Safety.
It was reported earlier that Marchand would be given an in-person hearing for the play, and it was determined that it was worthy of six games. The suspension was based on the fact that two infractions occurred, both came well after the whistle and Marchand has a significant history of fines and suspensions, including a three-game suspension in November for slew-footing Vancouver Canucks defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson.
The suspension will keep Marchand out of the lineup until February 24, when the Bruins play the Seattle Kraken. The next six games offer a mixed bag of competition for the Bruins as they will square off against the Ottawa Senators twice, New York Islanders, Carolina Hurricanes, New York Rangers and Colorado Avalanche.
Marchand’s suspension is another blow to the Bruins’ lineup, as they will also be without center and captain Patrice Bergeron, who suffered an upper-body injury during the game against Pittsburgh. Marchand has 21 goals and 49 points in 39 games played as well as being key on special teams and over play-driving with a 62.53% CF% and 64.26% xGF%, second among Bruins forwards.
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