Bruins' Charlie McAvoy Facing NHL Ban, Will Have Hearing After Slash on Sabres' Zach Benson

Boston Bruins forward Charlie McAvoy could be suspended to start the 2026-27 season after slashing the Buffalo Sabres' Zach Benson in Friday's Game 6 elimination loss.

McAvoy has been offered an in-person hearing, the NHL's Department of Player Safety announced Saturday. He could be now be suspended for six games or more.

McAvoy was ejected from the game following the incident, which took place after Benson tripped McAvoy in the final minutes of the Bruins' 4-1 loss.

After crashing into the boards, McAvoy got up and retaliated by hitting Benson with his stick in a two-handed grip.

Had the Department of Player Safety decided on a virtual hearing, McAvoy could have received a suspension of no more than five games.

McAvoy was skating back to beat Benson on a potential icing call with the Bruins' net empty.

He got the icing with 1:31 left on the clock, but was ultimately ejected for the remainder of the Bruins' season-ending loss.

McAvoy seemingly agreed when a reporter described Benson's trip as a slew foot after the game.

When asked about potential supplemental discipline from the NHL, McAvoy answered, "I won't play another game until September. I can't imagine it really matters much."

Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said after the Sabres' win that McAvoy "probably went a little too far" by slashing Benson.

"I don't know if we got under his skin or not, but 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," Ruff said.

Ruff continued, "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."

The five-minute major and game misconduct capped off what had been a frustrating series for McAvoy, who was on the ice Friday for both the Sabres' opening tally and Benson's insurance goal.

After averaging almost a point per game (11 goals, 50 assists for 61 points in 69 games) during the regular season, McAvoy finished the series with a minus-six rating to go alongside two assists in six games.

After missing out on the 2025 postseason, the Bruins' playoff series win drought will now stretch to two years. The Sabres will advance to play either the Montreal Canadiens or Tampa Bay Lightning, who will wrap up their own first-round series with Game 7 on Sunday in Tampa.