McAvoy's Slash Costs Bruins Six Games at Critical Moment

Charlie McAvoy's disciplinary hearing didn't go the way Boston hoped, as the NHL came down hard on the Bruins defenseman for a slashing incident against Buffalo's Zach Benson. The six-game suspension arrives at a particularly brutal time for a team already navigating the playoff gauntlet, forcing the blue line to absorb a significant loss of veteran leadership. McAvoy's absence will test Boston's depth on the back end and could reshape how the Bruins approach their remaining postseason push.