Bruins D Charlie McAvoy appealing 4-game suspension

Boston Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy, who was suspended for four games for an illegal check to the head of Florida Panthers defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson earlier this week, is appealing the suspension.

McAvoy was allowed to appeal because the suspension is fewer than six games and didn't involve an in-person hearing with the NHL Department of Player Safety.

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman will hear the appeal and could uphold the suspension, increase it or reduce it.

McAvoy, who sat out Thursday's shootout win over the Toronto Maple Leafs, received a match penalty in the third period of Monday's overtime victory over Florida for delivering a check to Ekman-Larsson's head.

Saying the contact was avoidable, the NHL handed down the four-game suspension Tuesday.

The Department of Player Safety usually suspends players for a minimum of two games for an illegal check to the head, but McAvoy received a four-game ban due to his one-game suspension for the same infraction in 2019.