Boston Bruins forwward Brad Marchand avoided a penalty – but not a fine – for a dangerous trip on Seattle Kraken forward Oliver Bjorkstrand. Marchand has been fined $5000 by the NHL’s Department of Player Safety for tripping.
The two players came together after the whistle with 5:38 to go in the third period of Thursday night’s game in Seattle, with Marchand cross-checking Bjorkstrand, who returned the stickwork – right in front of referee Trevor Hanson. With the two tangled up, Marchand used his right leg to sweep Bjorkstrand’s skates out from under him.
Marchand and Bjorkstrand were both issued matching penalties for cross-checking on the play. The Boston winger was not penalized for the trip.
The NHL has consistently deemed similar plays as ‘dangerous trips’ when they fall short of the specific criteria for a slew-foot. From the NHL rule book:
Slew-footing is the act of a player using his leg or foot to knock or kick an opponent’s feet from under him, or pushes an opponent’s upper body backward with an arm or elbow, and at the same time with a forward motion of his leg, knocks or kicks the opponent’s feet from under him, causing him to fall violently to the ice.
Any player who is guilty of slew-footing shall be assessed a match penalty.
Marchand clearly kicked out Bjorkstrand’s skate on this play, sending him to the ice. The league typically looks for the upper body push accompanied by the foot sweep when categorizing a play as slew-footing.
Boston went on to win the game 6-5. Referees were Trevor Hanson (#14) and Chris Schlenker (#3) with linesmen Trent Knorr (#74) and Tommy Hughes (#65).
Marchand’s fine is the maximum allowable under the CBA without a formal hearing.
