BOSTON – The NHL Department of Player Safety has offered Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy an in-person hearing after he swung his stick at Buffalo winger Zach Benson late in Friday’s season-ending 4-1 loss to the Sabres.
No time and date have been announced. An in-person hearing gives the NHL the option of suspending McAvoy six game or more.
As McAvoy and Benson raced into the Boston zone on a potential icing call, Benson appeared to trip McAvoy, sending him sliding into the end boards 18:29 into the third period of Game 6.
An incensed McAvoy immediately got up and went after Benson, giving him a two-hand whack and igniting a melee.
McAvoy earned a five-minute slashing penalty and a game misconduct. Benson, meanwhile, received a two-minute tripping penalty.
Of course, McAvoy’s frustration over the Bruins’ early exit and his own playoff performance likely contributed to his aggression.
He endured a rough series, registering two assists and a minus-6 rating, including a minus-3 on Friday.
“You don’t want to see a guy like that take a chop at somebody else,” Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said following the game in TD Garden. “I haven’t looked at the play. I think he feels that Benson tripped him on the play, or took his feet out from underneath him. Our thoughts on the end of the game was let’s just try to get through the end of the game. ….
“I’m just going to say, raw emotion. Charlie’s a hell of a player, cares about winning. Anybody would want Charlie on his team. Probably went a little too far.”
Charlie McAvoy goes Paul Bunyan on Zach Benson. Chillllll#LetsGoBuffalo #NHLBruins pic.twitter.com/6qnVQ5rQkd
— Buffalo Hockey Moments (@SabresPlays) May 2, 2026