Boston Bruins star Brad Marchand is facing a suspension for his actions late in Tuesday night’s 4-2 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins.
On Wednesday, the NHL offered Marchand an in-person hearing via Zoom for roughing and high-sticking Penguins goaltender Tristan Jarry. The date and time of the hearing have not been determined.
Marchand punched Jarry in the head during a scrum in front of the Pittsburgh net with 25 seconds left. Later, while being restrained by an official, the 33-year-old forward shoved his stick into Jarry’s mask.
Marchand was hit with a match penalty and a roughing minor. A match penalty triggers an automatic suspension, pending a review by commissioner Gary Bettman.
“Honestly, a lack of discipline, obviously, on Brad’s part in that situation,” Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy said after the game. “I just watched the replay at the end. It looks like some words were exchanged. I don’t know if there was an incident at the end of the second that precipitated that. I was in the room so I don’t know. Someone said that. Still, you’ve got to have better discipline at the end of the day. Brad’s a leader on our team and he’s got to control his emotions.”
The incident at the end of the second period reference by Cassidy occurred when Jarry attempted to give a puck to a Penguins fan in the Boston crowd. Marchand skated over and knocked it off Jarry’s stick.
Marchand did not speak to reporters after the game. Jarry said it was “part of the game.”
“I think it just stays on the ice,” Jarry added.
Marchand has been suspended seven times for a total of 22 games during his 13-year career. He received a three-game suspension in November for slew-footing Vancouver’s Oliver Ekman-Larsson.
Marchand leads Boston with 49 points (21 goals, 28 assists) in 39 games. He has 764 points (340 goals, 424 assists) and 864 penalty minutes in 843 career games with the Bruins.
–Field Level Media