2/10/22 By Benjamin Aliber
The Boston Bruins lost their star left-winger and team leader in points (49), Brad Marchand, to a six-game suspension on Feb. 9, 2022.
The suspension resulted from the Bruins vs. Penguins game on Feb. 8. With 24.1 seconds left in the game, while being down 4-2, Marchand punched Pittsburgh goaltender Tristan Jarry in the head long after the whistle. Referee Wes McCauley escorted Marchand away after a scrum broke out due to the punch, but the winger gave Jarry a subsequent whack to the chin with his stick. Marchand was given a two-minute minor for roughing and a match penalty, which calls for an automatic review of the play by the Department of Player Safety.
With the six-game suspension, Marchand is to miss games against the Carolina Hurricanes (2/10), Ottawa Senators (2/12 & 2/19), New York Rangers (2/15), New York Islanders (2/17) and Colorado Avalanche (2/21). He will next be available when Boston plays the Seattle Kraken on Feb. 24. Following the suspension, Boston recalled forward Jack Studnicka and defenseman Tyler Lewington from the Providence Bruins. Oscar Steen has been sent back down to the AHL.
Marchand’s loss comes at a costly time, as Boston remains in the hunt for the third playoff spot in the Atlantic division, as they are eight points behind the Toronto Maple Leafs. The news of the suspension came on the same day Tuukka Rask confirmed his retirement. Rask is arguably one of the best goalies in not just Bruins history, but in NHL history as well. Rask is the Bruins’ franchise leader in games played (564), games started (544), and wins (308).
Next up for Boston is the Carolina Hurricanes on Feb. 10. Puck drops from TD Garden at 7 p.m.