Brad Marchand Could Face DoPS Punishment for Hit on Brassard.

Brad Marchand may find himself the subject of a Department of Player Safety ‘Quintkick’ for his actions in last night’s Boston Bruins-New York Rangers game.  The Bruins were leading in the second period when Brad Marchand comes up behind Derick Brassard and delivers a near textbook ‘slew foot’. Marchand dumps Brassard on the ice, and Brassard got up favoring his right knee.

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A slew-foot happens when one player throws another player off balance by coming up behind and sweeping the back of their leg. It can put that player in a very dangerous position because they become an out of control projectile on the ice. If a player is thought to be responsible for that kind of hit, they earn a match penalty for their actions.

Here’s the reverse angle replay of the hit.

Brassard and Marchand have never fought each other in their NHL careers.

Marchand also has a past with the Department of Player Safety over some of his reckless actions. He has been fined and suspended for his hijinks over his career. He was hit with a $2,500 fine for nailing Pittsburgh Penguin Matt Niskanen with a slew foot back in December 2011. While under the current CBA Marchand is not listed as a repeat offender, his reputation may come back to haunt him in the next few days.

“It was a dangerous play and it was definitely a slew-foot. Those are dangerous plays and guys can get hurt like that. It’s something I shouldn’t have done and they penalized me for it and I’ll move on now.” Brad Marchand on him being fined by the NHL for his hit on Matt Niskanen

Brad Marchand is currently the team’s leading scorer with twelve goals. He’s tied for fourth in overall points with twenty-four. Marchand’s aggressive play style earned him a penalty in last night’s game for a cross-check to Dan Boyle. He finished last night with a +1, four hits, and no shots on goal in his thirteen and a half minutes on the ice last night.

With the Bruins on a five game win, nine game point streak, it’s important for the Black and Gold to maintain momentum. That momentum could be jeopardized if the Department of Player Safety believes Marchand’s hit is a suspension worthy one. Marchand has been playing on the edge for the year, and I’m sure Claude Julien and the front office will be reminding him how important him on how important it is to play clean hockey.