Bruins’ Charlie McAvoy ejected for violent slash on Jake Benson

Boston Bruins defense personnel Charlie McAvoy They were ousted late in Game 6 elimination damage from Buffalo Sabres Forward for a violent slash Jack Benson That could draw supplemental discipline from the NHL.

With 1:31 left in the game and the Sabers leading 4-1, Boston’s net was empty for an extra skater. As McAvoy went back for the icing call, Benson ripped him with his left leg, sending McAvoy crashing into the end boards. McAvoy rose, skated through his teammates and delivered a two-handed slash across Benson’s torso.

McAvoy was given a five-minute major for slashing, which carries an automatic game misconduct. Benson was whistled for a minor penalty for tripping.

“You don’t want to see the last play of the game. You don’t want to see one guy take a chop like anybody else,” said coach Lindy Ruff, whose Sabers advanced to the second round of the NHL playoffs for the first time since 2007. “I think he feels that Benson pushed him into the game or took his foot off the ground.”

McAvoy admitted after the game that he felt Benson gave him a leg up.

The NHL Department of Player Safety reviews each play that may result in supplemental discipline. When asked what he expected to hear from the league, McOy said: “I don’t play another game until September, so I can’t imagine it really matters that much.”

It was a nightmare series for McAvoy, who was a minus-6 in six games with two assists. Unable to intercept a pass from the Buffalo forward, he was knocked out Josh Doan That got Benson for a backbreaking 3-1 lead in the third period in Game 6.

“You work for a long time to get to the playoffs. Every time it’s an opportunity, and we’re on the wrong side of it. So it hurts right now,” McAvoy said.

Ruff praised McAvoy as an opponent after the game.

“I’m just going to say (it was) emotional. Charlie’s a hell of a player. Cares about winning. Anyone who wants Charlie on their team. Maybe a little too far,” he said.

The winner of the series between the Sabers will face off Montreal Canadiens And Tampa Bay Lightningwho will play a Game 7 in Tampa on Sunday.