The Bruins will play Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals Thursday night against the Hurricanes, but they will be without one of their better players.
Defenseman Charlie McAvoy has been suspended one game for his hit on the Blue Jackets' Josh Anderson in Game 6 Monday night.
McAvoy received just a two-minute penalty for the hit.
"It was a hockey play," he told reporters after the game. "I tried to finish my check in a legal manner. I was penalized two minutes, and I served it, and I just came back and tried to be an impactful player."
The Bruins will now be forced to change up their defensive pairings.
Boston's Charlie McAvoy has been suspended for one game for an Illegal Check to the Head on Columbus' Josh Anderson. https://t.co/17QswFLyfI
— NHL Player Safety (@NHLPlayerSafety) May 7, 2019
