Surprise, surprise — Brad Marchand will have another cheap shot reviewed by the NHL office.
The Bruins forward speared Lightning defenseman Jake Dotchin in the groin in the final minute of the first period Tuesday. Dotchin, naturally, crumbled to the ice in pain. Marchand was given a five-minute major and a game misconduct.
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Enough with the league slapping Marchand on the wrist; for once, he needs to face severe consequences for his cheap shots.
Watch the play closely: Marchand also sticks Dotchin in the face while he's down on the ice.
#Marchand not only spears #Lightning player in groin but then he pokes him in face while on the ice!! #Bruins #BostonBruins #MatchPenalty pic.twitter.com/zopA5jEUIk
— Nicholas Prins (@nohouzecalls) April 5, 2017
Marchand is back to his dirty tricks just two months after he was fined $10,000, the league maximum, for a dangerous trip on Red Wings defenseman Niklas Kronwall. Marchand has avoided severe NHL discipline thus far in his career, but after seven run-ins with the league office (counting the one that's sure to come this week) and countless other close calls, enough is enough. The league needs to send a serious message to one of its most frequent offenders.
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Marchand's long history of dirtiness:
- A two-game suspension for elbowing R.J. Umberger in the head in March 2011.
- A $2,500 fine for slew-footing Matt Niskanen in December 2011.
- A five-game ban for a low-hit clip on Sami Salo in January 2012.
- Two games for slew-footing Derick Brassard in January 2015.
- A three-game suspension for clipping Mark Borowiecki in December 2015.
- The $10,000 fine for tripping Kronwall.
The NHL's Department of Player Safety needs to let Marchand know he can't be a frequent predator in this era of hockey. He needs to be suspended for more than Bruins' final two regular- season games. He should at least have to miss a playoff game, too.
From a team standpoint, this is the absolute worst time for Marchand to channel his dark side. The Bruins clinched a playoff berth Tuesday with a 4-0 win over the Lightning, but as things look right now the top-seeded Capitals are awaiting them in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. The Bruins will have a tough enough time trying to beat the league's top team, but possibly losing its leading scorer for any part of that series could be highly detrimental.
That's the type of punishment Marchand needs.