Boston Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy was offered an in-person hearing with the NHL's Department of Player Safety after slashing Buffalo Sabres forward Zach Benson late in Game 6 on Friday.
The Bruins were eliminated from the playoffs with a 4-1 loss, meaning McAvoy could be suspended for six games or more to start the 2026-27 season.
A date for the hearing hasn't been set.
McAvoy retaliated after Benson took him down during a race for a loose puck. He received a five-minute major and a game misconduct. Benson was given a tripping minor.
At the end of the third period, Charlie McAvoy swung his stick at Zach Benson after Benson took him down 😳 pic.twitter.com/8NHny8nwlZ
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) May 2, 2026
"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. I think he feels that Benson tripped him on the play or took his feet out from underneath him," Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said after the game, according to Greg Wyshynski of ESPN.
"I'm just going to say (it was) raw emotion," Ruff added. "Charlie's a hell of a player. Cares about winning. Anybody would want Charlie on his team. Probably went a little too far though."
McAvoy has been suspended twice in his career, both for illegal hits to the head. The Bruins' top defender struggled in the playoffs, going minus-6 in the series while adding two assists.
