NHL upholds suspension of Bruins forward Brad Marchand

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman upheld the six-game suspension of Boston Bruins forward Brad Marchand for attacking Penguins goaltender Tristan Jarry during a game Feb. 8.

Marchand appealed the suspension and had a hearing with Bettman on Wednesday. The league announced Bettman’s decision Friday.

Marchand already has served four games of the suspension.

Marchand’s attack came in the final minute during the Penguins’ 4-2 win at TD Garden on Feb. 18.

After Jarry froze a puck, he appeared to say something to Marchand, who responded by punching Jarry in the head.

As linesman Andrew Smith tried to escort Marchand to his bench, Marchand then jabbed Jarry in the helmet with his stick.

Marchand was issued a match penalty and a roughing minor for the attack. One day later, he underwent a disciplinary hearing with the NHL’s department of player safety and was suspended.

By Feb. 11, Marchand indicated he would appeal the length of the suspension, as is his right per the collective bargaining agreement between the NHL and NHL Players’ Association.

In his ruling, Bettman noted:

• “Mr. Marchand’s conduct was intentional and involved an excessive and unnecessary use of force.”

• “The conduct consisted of two incidents — an unprovoked punch, followed by a high stick delivered after and despite the intervention of a linesman — that violated two League Playing Rules. The conduct was potentially dangerous, and that danger was exacerbated by the fact that it was directed against an unsuspecting player who was not in a position to defend himself.”

• “Mr. Marchand is not only a “repeat offender,” as that term is defined in Article 18, he has now been suspended a total of eight times in his career and been fined four times. In addition, his most recent prior suspension (for three games) occurred only 21 games (and less than three months) before the incident at issue.”

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