Charlie McAvoy Gets 6 Games for Slashing Zach Benson and the Bruins Are Already Feeling It
The NHL Department of Player Safety just dropped the hammer on Boston Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy for a six-game suspension, and it's the kind of moment that makes you wonder what he was thinking out there. McAvoy went after Buffalo Sabres forward Zach Benson with a two-handed slash during Game 6 of their first-round series on May 1, and the league wasn't about to let that slide.
What Actually Happened on the Ice
Here's the play: Benson tripped McAvoy with his left leg as McAvoy was skating back for an icing call, sending him hard into the end boards. McAvoy got up, skated over through his teammates, and delivered a vicious two-handed slash across Benson's torso. That's when the refs immediately threw him out with a five-minute major for slashing plus an automatic game misconduct. Benson got whistled for a minor penalty for tripping, but that didn't matter. The damage was done and everyone saw it.
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👉 Claim Your Free $10 at KalshiAt the time of the incident, the Sabres were leading 4-1 in the game and held a 3-2 series lead. The slash with 1:31 left meant McAvoy wasn't finishing that game, and now he won't be finishing the start of next season either.
The Suspension and What Comes Next
The suspension was announced Tuesday, the day after McAvoy had an in-person hearing at the NHL's New York City offices. All parties agreed this was an intentional and forceful strike delivered to an opponent's body specifically for retribution and sending a message. That's league speak for "he lost his cool."
McAvoy will serve the suspension at the start of the 2026-27 season, which means the Bruins are going to feel this one early. He and the NHLPA can appeal the ban to NHL commissioner Gary Bettman, and if necessary, they can take it to a neutral arbitrator since the suspension is greater than five games. But six games is six games, and that's a chunk of games for a defenseman of McAvoy's caliber to miss.
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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.