Boston Bruins Brad Marchand has been suspended two games for spearing Tampa Bay Lightning defenceman Jake Dotchin.
The incident took place Tuesday night, when Marchand took it upon himself to spear Dotchin in the groin. He was handed a five-minute major penalty and a game misconduct after the play.
Brad Marchand‘s Tainted Track Record
Marchand is a repeat offender who has conducted a series of dirty plays over his eight season career. The 28-year old was fined $10,000 by the NHL due to a dangerous trip on Detroit Red Wings Niklas Kronwall in January.
Marchand has been suspended four times leading up to his recent incident with Dotchin.
In March 2011, he caught Columbus Blue Jackets R.J. Umberger with an elbow to the head. Marchand received a two-game suspension as a first time offender.
A play that involved Marchand serving Sami Salo with a low hit in 2012 earned the now repeat offender a five-game suspension.
In January 2015, Marchand made New York Rangers Derick Brassard a victim of his slew footing saga. The incident cost him two games.
On December 30, 2015, Brad Marchand was penalized for three games, in this instance for clipping Ottawa Senators defenceman Mark Borowiecki. The Bruins forward was forced to miss the 2016 NHL Winter Classic.
In a post game press conference, Marchand admitted that his rash decision led to “an undisciplined penalty. There’s no question about that”. Boston managed to clinch a playoff position after defeating Tampa Bay by a score of 4-0. Head coach Bruce Cassidy responded to the actions of his leading scorer, making it clear that Bruins management will “have a talk with Brad”, while realizing that “he’s got to be more responsible, but at the end of the day, it happened.”
BOSTON, MA – JANUARY 05: Brad Marchand #63 of the Boston Bruins waits for a face off during a game at during a game with Edmonton Oilers at TD Garden on January 5, 2017 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images)
