Brad Marchand has run the gamut on suspendable offenses through his polarizing NHL career, but this might be a new one.
The Bruins star is likely to find himself in hot water with the league office once again after a n awkward collision with Anthony Duclair sent the Blackhawks forward to the dressing room during the first period of Saturday's matinee. Marchand had been skating with his back to Duclair and appeared to turn blindly. As he pivoted, though, Marchand left his feet and collided head-on with Duclair's upper body, leading with his left forearm.
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Anthony Duclair suffers knee injury after collision with Brad Marchand pic.twitter.com/Z3LdZaG6Qq
— Pete Blackburn (@PeteBlackburn) March 10, 2018
Duclair went down in a heap, grasping is leg. He needed to be helped off the ice and did not return to the game.
Marchand received a two-minute minor for interference.
Like almost any suspect play involving Marchand, there are two sides to the argument over whether the NHL Department of Player Safety should take disciplinary action. Regardless of intent, the 29-year-old, having built a reputation on playing with reckless abandon, has lost the benefit of the doubt with six career suspensions. The most recent incident occurred Jan. 23 when Marchand elbowed Devils forward Marcus Johansson, resulting in a five-game ban for Marchand.
Johansson suffered a concussion on the play and has yet to return to the Devils lineup.
Earlier this week, the NHL hit Marchand with a $2,000 fine for flopping against the Penguins.
The Bruins can ill afford Marchand's absence as they attempt to chase down the Lightning for first place in the Atlantic Division, especially as Patrice Bergeon and Charlie McAvoy are missing extended time with injuries. Marchand scored three consecutive game-winning goals as part of a five-game Bruins win streak, leading to some darkhorse Hart Trophy chatter. But this might put a damper on the feel-good run for both sides.
Boston was also without David Backes Saturday after he was suspended three games for interfering with Detroit's Frans Nielsen.
