McAvoy's ejection impacts Bruins' Game 6

Charlie McAvoy was ejected after a controversial incident during Game 6 of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs, where the Boston Bruins faced elimination against the Buffalo Sabres. With 1:31 remaining in regulation, McAvoy skated to touch up on a Sabres icing, where Zach Benson attempted to take him out, resulting in McAvoy believing he was subjected to a purposeful slewfoot.

Following the play, McAvoy retaliated by delivering a two-handed slash to Benson and throwing a punch, which initiated a scrum. As a result, McAvoy received a game misconduct and a five-minute major penalty for slashing, while Benson was given a two-minute minor penalty for tripping.

McAvoy's ejection marked a pivotal moment in the game as the Bruins struggled to recover from a 4-1 deficit, ultimately falling to the Sabres. This loss eliminated Boston from the playoffs and allowed Buffalo to advance to the second round for the first time since 2007.

In Game 6, David Pastrnak scored the only goal for the Bruins, while McAvoy finished the series with two assists in six games. The implications of McAvoy's actions could lead to supplemental discipline from the NHL's Department of Player Safety at the start of the 2026-27 season, as noted in the report from Russian Machine Never Breaks.