A moment of anger from an NHL star and Team USA Olympic gold medalist could lead to a long-term suspension after he lost his head moments before being eliminated from the playoffs.
Boston Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy could face serious punishment from the league’s Department of Player Safety after he slashed Buffalo Sabres forward Zach Benson in the final moments of Game 6 on Friday night.
Benson is not without fault. With the Sabres up 4-1 with less than two minutes remaining in the game, the puck was shot down the rink and was about to be called for an icing.
Benson, who is in his third NHL season, slew-footed McAvoy – using his leg to take out the Bruins star from behind just feet away from the boards in a truly dangerous scene.
Enraged, McAvoy got up off the ice and skated over to the Sabres youngster before using his hockey stick as a weapon and swinging it at Benson – hitting him in the arm.
McAvoy was given a five-minute major and a game misconduct – ejecting him from the contest.
Boston Bruins star Charlie McAvoy could face a significant suspension for a dirty play
Late in the Bruins loss, McAvoy was slew-footed by Buffalo Sabres forward Zach Benson
An enraged McAvoy got up off the ice and then swung his stick at Benson, hitting his arm
Benson, meanwhile, was only given a two minute minor for tripping. The NHL rulebook states that a slew foot constitutes a ‘match penalty,’ meaning that Benson should have been ejected from the game.
On Saturday, the Department of Player Safety announced that McAvoy has been ‘offered an in-person hearing’ for the slash.
According to Chris Johnston of The Athletic, this step of offering the hearing means McAvoy ‘could be suspended six or more games to start the 2026-27 season.’
The league did not announce any hearing for Benson, nor any further punishment for the Sabres forward in the form of a fine or a suspension.
Reflecting on the incident, Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said, “You don’t want to see the last play of the game. You don’t want to see a guy take a chop like that at somebody else.
Ruff added, ‘I think he feels that Benson tripped him on the play or took his feet out from underneath him. I’m just going to say [it was] raw emotion. Charlie’s a hell of a player. Cares about winning. Anybody would want Charlie on his team. Probably went a little too far, though.”
Benson managed two goals and three points across the first six games of the playoffs as the Sabres won their first playoff series since 2007.
Buffalo is off to the second round where they will face the winner of Sunday’s Game 7 matchup between the Montreal Canadiens and the Tampa Bay Lightning.
