Toronto Maple Leafs forward Zach Hyman was suspended two games by the NHL for his late hit on Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy on Saturday night. In the Bruins 6-3 win, Hyman checked McAvoy after the blueliner had passed the puck behind the net. He was assessed a major penalty for interference and game misconduct, and<\/b>
\nToronto Maple Leafs forward Zach Hyman was suspended two games by the NHL for his late hit on Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy on Saturday night.
In the Bruins 6-3 win, Hyman checked McAvoy after the blueliner had passed the puck behind the net. He was assessed a major penalty for interference and game misconduct, and the hit sparked a physical, fight-filled end to the contest, including a Matt Grzelcyk misconduct for his fight defending his teammate.
\u201cI thought it was late,\u201d Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy said after Saturday\u2019s game. \u201cI thought it was unnecessary. If the league takes a look at it \u2013 I don\u2019t know if they will or not, usually they do if there\u2019s a major involved. But again, it\u2019s one of those things where you\u2019re at a point in the game, hasn\u2019t been a lot of body checking from the other team and all of a sudden there\u2019s a late unsuspecting one, and it annoys you. Especially when it\u2019s Charlie who just came back, so you\u2019re wondering are they targeting him or not? You don\u2019t know that. I\u2019d like to think it was just a guy playing hard and got there late and didn\u2019t pull up, but our guys responded well.\u201d
McAvoy left the game temporarily but returned, and he was active for, and started, Sunday\u2019s game in Ottawa. He was in his second game since returning from a 20-game absence with a concussion.
\u201cIt\u2019s obviously something you don\u2019t like to see especially when you kind of have a lead like that,\u201d said Grzelcyk. \u201cSo, just trying to stick up for my teammate there.\u201d
The NHL Department of Player Safety released a video explaining the suspension, calling the hit \u201clate, forceful, and high\u201d and that it came \u201cwell after the puck is gone.\u201d
Per the NHL, Hyman will forfeit $24,193.54. The money goes to the Players\u2019 Emergency Assistance Fund.<\/p>\n