(Seattle) After his second suspension of the season, Boston Bruins forward Brad Marchand knows he has no more room for misconduct, since the next sanctions could be more severe.
Posted at 6:29 p.m.
Marchand will return to action on Thursday night after his six-game suspension when the Bruins begin a long road trip with a duel against the Seattle Kraken.
He was suspended for actions against Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Tristan Jarry on Feb. 8.
With 25 seconds left in the third period, Marchand punched Jarry in the head and hit the goaltender’s mask with his stick as a linesman escorted him out of a crowd.
“Obviously, what I take away from all of this is that the level of tolerance is very low right now for me, Marchand said after the Bruins’ morning practice on Thursday.
So I have to stay away from problematic situations, which I have learned to do in recent years. I just have to accept it, whether I agree or not. I have to look forward and respect the rules that are put in place for me.
Brad Merchant
Marchand appealed the suspension, but NHL commissioner Gary Bettman upheld it. The striker then decided not to go any further in the appeal process, preferring to put this episode behind him.
Marchand had already been suspended for three games for having cut the skates of a Vancouver Canucks player in late November. He has been suspended eight times in his career.
“I wanted to better understand how they came to this decision, because we felt it was a bit harsh. Not just this time, but also the previous one. So we wanted to listen to their arguments,” Marchand explained.
Despite missing nine games this season due to suspensions, Marchand is still tied for the team lead with 49 points and second in goals with 21.
Head coach Bruce Cassidy has made no secret that Marchand’s behavior will have to improve if the team is to have a good end to the season.
PHOTO COREY SIPKIN, ASSOCIATED PRESS ARCHIVES
Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy
The formation holds the fourth echelon of the Atlantic section and the eighth place in the East.
“He paid the price for his gesture and he has to have an impeccable attitude,” Cassidy said. We’ve said it often: Brad knows where the line is.
“He has to be careful. Mars is approaching, and the next move could be punished even more severely. I think he understands that too. »