Breaking: NHL makes controversial decision after Marchand jumps and sucker punches Eller

More details here...

HockeyFeed
HockeyFeed
Published 5 years ago
Breaking: NHL makes controversial decision after Marchand jumps and sucker punches Eller
Twitter


In the waning moments of the Washington Capitals’ absolute shellacking of the Boston Bruins this evening, well-known pest Brad Marchand jumped Caps forward Lars Eller and dropped him with a huge right hand.

And of course, Marchand's reputation got the best of it. Fans on social media started writing that of course, the Bruins gritty forward would not waste a second to be a jerk on the ice, and got the opportunity when the Capitals took a brutal 7-0 lead in the season's first contest. Marchand took exception to Eller chirping the Boston bench after scoring the Capitals seventh goal, jumping him several minutes later. Marchand earned “a two-minute minor for instigating, five minutes for fighting and a 10-minute misconduct, while Eller got five for fighting."

You can see the incident in the video above. 

NHL insider Elliotte Friedman now reports that it looks like the NHL's Department of Safety has made a decision on what to do with Marchand. Friedman wondered if there would be any action from last night, but has been told Brad Marchand in the lineup this evening against the Buffalo Sabres. 

After the incident took place, one panelist of Sportsnet, former general manager Brian Burke believed that Marchand was right to pound Eller the way he did. He added that it was a question of values for the Bruins gritty forward. 

The Capitals forward had just scored his first goal of the 2018-19 season, and sure that is exciting, especially with a 7-0 score right after the Stanley Cup banner was hoist in the arena. However, you are leading 7-0. No need to celebrate in front of the opposite team's bench and taunt them the way Eller did. Burke had a problem with Eller's celebration and completely understands why Marchand decided to take matters into his own hands. 

Marchand admitted that is why he took exception to Eller late in the game. 

"His celebration was unnecessary. He took an angle in front of our bench and celebrated in a 7-0 game. So I just let him know."


Many believed that the fact that Marchand is a repeat offender would not help him in this situation and would have him face a suspension, however, with Friedman's latest report it sure looks like Marchand got away with this one.

Source: Twitter