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Bruins' Marchand banned for slew-footing Canucks' Ekman-Larsson
Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports

Bruins' Brad Marchand suspended three games for slew-footing Canucks' Oliver Ekman-Larsson

Boston Bruins forward Brad Marchand took Vancouver Canucks defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson down in the first period of Sunday's game that Boston won 3-2 with a move that didn't result in a penalty but raised the eyes of some observers: 

Marchand had a hearing on Monday and learned he earned a three-game suspension for his crime, according to the NHL's website. He will forfeit $91,875 as part of his punishment, and that money will go to the Players' Emergency Assistance Fund.

"It is important to note that there are many occasions during the course of a game where players use either their legs or their stick and upper body to restrain or impede opponents, or to gain leverage during a puck battle," the league explained in an accompanying video. "When these plays rise to the level of being illegal, the vast majority of them can be adequately punished with in-game penalties.

"What causes this play to rise to the level of supplementary discipline is Marchand’s use of both his upper and lower body to take Ekman-Larsson to the ice in a dangerous fashion and the speed at which the players are traveling towards the boards." 

As Gavin Lee noted for Pro Hockey Rumors, Marchand has been suspended six times during his career and previously earned a ban for slew-footing in 2015. The fact he's a repeat offender didn't help his cause following this latest incident. 

Thus far this season, Marchand has recorded nine goals and 15 assists across 18 games for the 11-7-0 Bruins. 

Zac Wassink

Zac Wassink is a longtime sports news writer and PFWA member who began his career in 2006 and has had his work featured on Yardbarker, MSN, Yahoo Sports and Bleacher Report. He is also a football and futbol aficionado who is probably yelling about Tottenham Hotspur at the moment and who chanted for Matt Harvey to start the ninth inning of Game 5 of the 2015 World Series at Citi Field. You can find him on X at @ZacWassink

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