Charlie McAvoy is currently the youngest player on Boston but has already made an immediate impact to the Bruins’ blueline.
Last night, superstar Johnny Gaudreau got in the way of the young defender.
It didn’t end well.
The 20-year-old first round selection out of Boston University tallied 32 points in 63 during his first full season of pro hockey. He spent some time with the club a year prior, joining Boston for a playoff bout against the Ottawa Senators.
He is currently ranked 9th on the Bruins with 7 hits on the year, but last night’s hit on Johnny Gaudreau of the Calgary Flames has created discussion.
Already leading 4-2, Gaudreau had a partial break on Tukkaa Rask. He was denied by the pad of Rask and play continued. Seconds after Gaudreau was denied, McAvoy drilled Gaudreau and was given a penalty.
Prior to the partial break, McAvoy and Gaudreau were chasing down an unaccompanied puck before McAvoy was beaten by Gaudreau’s speed.
Gaudreau was immediately dumped and the referee’s arm shot straight up to hand out a penalty. McAvoy was given an interference call on the play.
Gaudreau was pulled from the game by a concussion spotter and is labeled as ‘questionable’ for Calgary’s game against Nashville.
Head coach Bill Peters on Johnny Gaudreau’s status: “Hopefully it’s nothing, hopefully it’s minor, but we’ll see”.
Gaudreau was pulled by concussion spotters after taking a high hit from Charlie McAvoy in the third period. #Flames
— Pat Steinberg (@Fan960Steinberg) October 18, 2018
https://twitter.com/MikeCincoSays/status/1052799240643067904
Peters on the McAvoy hit on Gaudreau, didn't see it because of the ensuing line change happening on the bench: "I know the league is trying to crack down on that stuff to protect star players, to a certain degree. You want to come to an NHL game and see the marquee names."
— Kristen Anderson (@KdotAnderson) October 18, 2018
Calgary would go on to win 5-2.
#NHL #Flames – Johnny Gaudreau (head) is questionable Friday (10/19) vs. Nashville
— Action Labs (@ActionLabs_HQ) October 18, 2018
The Charlie Mcavoy hit on Johnny Gaudreau, looks late to me. Other than that, see no fault. Objectively if it was a split second sooner, clean hit. Gaudreau doesn't fall into the boards, and it looked like shoulder to chest. We'll see what NHL says.
— Lee Powell (@leepowellST) October 18, 2018
