Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy made his case Tuesday to the NHL Department of Player Safety.
At issue was his hit to the head of Columbus forward Josh Anderson late in the second period of Game 6 of the Eastern Conference second round on Monday, a game the Bruins won 3-0 to wrap up the series and advance to the Eastern Conference finals.
McAvoy's argument wasn't strong enough in the eyes of the DOPS to avoid a one-game suspension, so now the Bruins will play the Carolina Hurricanes without their ice-time leader (24:46 per game).
"Yeah, I said my piece in accordance with the rules. I think that we put forth a pretty good defense, just really slowing it down and watching it and seeing how his body changed kind of there at the last second, opening up," McAvoy said after practice Wednesday. "It was tough. I was just trying to make a hockey play and it was just a little bit unfortunate, really. Just trying to play the game and it happened. Whatever, I have to serve it.
"Like I said, I respect the process. I'm glad that I was able to say my piece and be able to defend myself, but all things together, I'm not a very good lawyer, I guess."
Much of the 21-year-old McAvoy's game is built around using his 6 feet, 208 pounds to be a physical force. He doesn't anticipate any of that changing because of his punishment from this situation.
"I can't change the kind of player I am. I don't think I'm a dirty player by any means," he said. "I think this was merely just a tough circumstance. I was trying to deliver a legal check. I felt that for the most part I did get a really good amount of body, a healthy amount of body. I thought it was a full-body check and this is just something I'm going to have to serve it and I respect their decision.
"I'm disappointed that I won't be able to help my team in Game 1 but I'm already looking forward to using this little bit of extra time to put myself in the best position to be ready to go for Game 2. It's an opportunity for me to rest some bumps and bruises and a chance to mentally reset and get ready. Once Game 2 comes around, I'm going to do whatever it takes to help the team."
In practice Wednesday, Steven Kampfer took McAvoy's spot on the second power play and skated as a pair with Matt Grzelcyk. The other pairs were Zdeno Chara-Connor Clifton and Torey Krug-Brandon Carlo. Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy wouldn't commit to that lineup for Thursday's Game 1 and didn't rule out the return of John Moore, but Cassidy typically sticks with what the Bruins do in practice, especially when the Bruins won't hold a mandatory morning skate on game day.
Kampfer has played in just one game (Game 3 vs. Toronto in the first round) this postseason and has three goals and three assists in 35 games during the regular season. He doesn't expect it to take too long for him to get into the flow.
"Yeah, I think a lot of it's the mental preparation," Kampfer said. "Going into it, they're a fast team, they're going to come hard and you have to be ready for it. When it's all said and done just be ready to go and get a hit your first shift, move your feet, make a play. It's pretty much all you're looking for."
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