Charlie McAvoy's Two-Handed Slash in Final Minute Ends Bruins' Season and Could Bring NHL Discipline

The Boston Bruins' playoff run ended in the worst way possible on May 2, 2026, when defenseman Charlie McAvoy was ejected late in Game 6 for a violent two-handed slash on Buffalo Sabres forward Zach Benson. With 1:31 remaining and Boston down 4-1 with an empty net on the ice, McAvoy was tripped by Benson's left leg, crashing hard into the end boards. When he got up, McAvoy skated directly through his own teammates and delivered a vicious chop across Benson's torso. The refs had no choice: five-minute major for slashing, which automatically carried a game misconduct.

A Moment of Raw Emotion in a Brutal Series

McAvoy had been a liability all series long. He finished minus-6 over six games with just two assists, and in Game 6 specifically, he was beaten to a puck by Buffalo forward Josh Doan, allowing a pass through to Benson that made it 3-1 in the third period. That's the kind of backbreaking defensive breakdown that sticks with you. When Benson took his feet out from under him late in the loss, something inside McAvoy snapped. Sabres coach Lindy Ruff understood the frustration but didn't excuse it. "You don't want to see a guy take a chop like that at somebody else. He feels that Benson tripped him on the play or took his feet out from underneath him." But then he added the kicker: "Probably went a little too far though."

What Comes Next

McAvoy acknowledged after the game that he felt the slew foot, and when asked if he expects supplemental discipline from the NHL Department of Player Safety, he shrugged it off with a dose of reality: "I won't play another game until September, so I can't imagine it really matters much." The Bruins' season is over. Buffalo advances to the second round of the playoffs for the first time since 2007, setting up a matchup against the winner of Montreal and Tampa Bay, who play Game 7 in Tampa on Sunday. For McAvoy, the frustration of a disappointing playoff exit will linger long before training camp rolls around.

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This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.