A chippy contest between the Boston Bruins and Ottawa Senators on Tuesday may require the NHL to take further disciplinary action.
Among the central figures in this game was Brad Marchand, who has a history of prior offences and could be facing another call from the league after not one but two incidents versus the Senators.
Marchand, the Bruins forward, caught Mark Borowiecki with a low hit earlier in the game, but did not receive a penalty. Later on, in the third period, he speared Kyle Turris after the whistle and was given a slashing minor.
But after the game -- a 7-3 Boston victory that included a Jimmy Hayes hat trick -- Marchand made a case for his innocence on the Borowiecki incident.
“It was a simple play,” said Marchand, as per the Ottawa Sun. “I was trying to get to the puck carrier and I turned up ice and he was kind of standing there. I just turned up and tried to go after the puck carrier.”
Meanwhile, the Senators responded to the Marchand spear on Turris.
“He’s done it before,” said Turris, as per the Ottawa Citizen. “We’ve come to expect stuff like that.”
Tuesday’s game featured more antics that could result in supplementary discipline. Multiple fights broke out in the final minute, with Sens’ enforcer Chris Neil appearing to eye-gouge Adam McQuaid as they fought inside the Boston zone.
The two teams combined for a total of 110 penalty minutes.