Charlie McAvoy received a 1-game suspension for his illegal check on Josh Anderson during Game 6 of the Eastern Conference second-round playoff series on Monday night.
McAvoy checked Anderson in the head at the end of the second period of Boston’s series-clinching win. He shockingly only received a 2-minute minor for the infraction, with many thinking he should have been ejected from the game.
The Department of Player Safety apparently agreed.
They shared a video explaining the discipline, noting that the contact was avoidable and that it was targeted at Anderson’s head.
Factoring into the lessened discipline was McAvoy saying he did not intend to injure Anderson. That doesn’t change that his hit was illegal.
Blue Jackets fans were displeased with the call and began throwing trash onto the ice.
Boston won the game 3-0 to advance to the conference finals. McAvoy will miss Game 1 of that series.
