Tampa Bay Lightning News: Brad Marchand Suspended 2 Games For His Spear On Jake Dotchin
Boston Bruins forward Brad Marchand has been suspended two games for his spear on Tampa Bay Lightning D Jake Dotchin
Boston Bruins forward Brad Marchand has been suspended by the NHL Department of Player Safety for two games for his flagrant and dirty spear on Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Jake Dotchin on Tuesday night at the TD Garden in Boston.
This isn’t Marchand’s first run in with the NHL’s Department of Player Safety. He is one of the more disciplined players in the NHL, as he has been either fined and/or suspended 7 times since 2011.
The incident occurred with around a minute left in the First Period. Dotchin was guarding Marchand in front of the net and after a push from Dotchin, Marchand turned and speared Dotchin in the unmentionables.
Dotchin immediately fell to the ice in a heap, and a penalty was called. This penalty would eventually evolve into a five-minute major for spearing and a game misconduct for Marchand. In case you missed it, the video is included below.
Not only was the spear dirty as is, but it was incredibly unnecessary. The puck was nowhere around the two and all Dotchin was doing was playing defense. This kind of play could have really hurt Dotchin. A hit there is never pleasant, but a hit with malicious intent is downright dangerous.
Brad Marchand has a history of dirty plays against the Lightning. Earlier in the year, he slew footed Anton Stralman, which has seemed to become a signature for Marchand. He didn’t even receive a penalty for this and got away with scot-free.
Thankfully, Marchand has received a penalty of some kind for his actions this time. He will miss the rest of the Bruins regular season but will be back in time for the playoffs. It’s honestly a wonder that he was punished at all for this, as he and many other notable players that shall not be named have gotten away with dirty plays like this.
The NHL Department of Player Safety has been anything but consistent this season and its beginning to show. Players are getting away with more than ever, and it’s getting dangerous.
It’s a small miracle that neither Stralman or Dotchin were injured during these plays, and these are just two examples of plays committed by the same guy on one team against just the Lightning.
All you have to do is type “Brad Marchand Dirty” into your search bar and you will be greeted with a slew (pardon the pun) of results from just this season alone. Once again, this is just one guy on one team. The results from around the league would be shocking.
Next: What Needs To Happen For The Bolts To Make The Playoffs
Marchand’s suspension was a drop in the bucket. There is an epidemic in the league right now of dirty and uncalled for plays going completely unpunished. It’s gotten out of hand, and players are starting to get hurt. If this isn’t reined in soon, it will only be a matter of when someone is seriously injured. By that point, the blame will fall more on the Department of Player of Safety than the perpetrator himself.