Bruins’ Charlie McAvoy Faces Possible Lengthy Suspension After Playoff Slash on Sabres’ Benson

Reflecto News | NHL | Playoffs & Discipline

BOSTON — Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy has been offered an in-person hearing with the NHL’s Department of Player Safety following a violent slashing incident late in Boston’s season-ending Game 6 loss to the Buffalo Sabres .

The incident occurred with 1:31 remaining in the third period, after Sabres forward Zach Benson took McAvoy down with a slew foot near the end boards. The Bruins defenseman crashed hard into the boards, rose immediately, and charged toward Benson before delivering a two-handed baseball swing slash to the Buffalo forward . McAvoy was assessed a five-minute major penalty for slashing and an automatic game misconduct, which prevented him from participating in the postgame handshake line . Benson received a minor penalty for tripping .

Hearing Signals Potential for Significant Suspension

The NHL offered McAvoy an in-person hearing rather than a virtual one, indicating that the league is considering a suspension of six games or more. If the hearing had been conducted by phone, the maximum suspension would have been five games .

The Department of Player Safety listed “slashing” as the grounds for supplemental discipline, though it retains the right to adjust the infraction upon review . A date and time for the hearing have not yet been announced. Because the Bruins were eliminated from the playoffs with the loss, any suspension McAvoy receives would be enforced at the beginning of the 2026-27 regular season .

McAvoy Dismisses Possible Punishment

After the game, McAvoy was asked whether he expected to hear from the league’s discipline department. His response suggested he was unconcerned about potential consequences.

“I won’t play another game until September. I can’t imagine it really matters much.”
— Charlie McAvoy, Bruins Defenseman

McAvoy acknowledged that the Sabres had been “the better team” in the series, which Buffalo won 4-2 to advance to the second round for the first time since 2007 .

Benson’s Role in the Incident

While the focus has been on McAvoy’s retaliation, Benson’s slew foot was a dangerous play that could have caused serious injury. Slew footing—using a leg to kick out an opponent’s skates from behind—is specifically prohibited by NHL rules and carries a match penalty designation . Benson received only a two-minute minor for tripping on the play .

Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff offered a measured response, acknowledging McAvoy’s frustration while noting the response went too far.

“You don’t want to see the last play of the game. You don’t want to see a guy take a chop like that at somebody else. I think he feels that Benson tripped him on the play or took his feet out from underneath him. 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, though.”
— Lindy Ruff, Sabres Head Coach

When a reporter asked about Benson engaging in trash talk while both players sat in the penalty box, Ruff responded with a smirk: “Zach knows how to kill a clock” .

McAvoy’s Suspension History

This would not be McAvoy’s first suspension. The 28-year-old defenseman has been disciplined twice previously by the NHL :

The slash on Benson came after a difficult series for McAvoy, who posted a minus-3 rating in Game 6 and minus-6 overall in the series. He also delivered a low hit on Sabres forward Beck Malenstyn in Game 2 and a high hit on Josh Doan earlier in Game 6 .

Recent Precedent for Slashing Suspensions

Earlier this season, Penguins forward Evgeni Malkin received a five-game suspension for slashing Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin in the head and neck area. Senators forward Ridly Greig also faces a potential suspension for sucker-punching Hurricanes defenseman Sean Walker during a scrum in Game 4 of their series .

These recent sanctions suggest McAvoy could be looking at a suspension on the higher end of the range — possibly four to six games to start the 2026-27 season .

The NHL has not announced any further discipline for Benson, nor any punishment for the Sabres forward regarding the slew foot that precipitated the incident .

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