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Charlie McAvoy is better off defending the Boston Bruins' goal than defending himself in the NHL Department of Player Safety hearings.
On Tuesday, the Bruins defenseman was suspended for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference final for his hit on Columbus Josh Anderson. McAvoy was grateful for the opportunity to present a defense of his actions even though the league's decision did not go his way.
"I said my piece in accordance with the rules, and I think we can pretty well defend it," McAvoy said. "You know, really slowing it down and watching it and seeing how it's changed at the last second, opened up. It was tough. I was trying to make a hockey game.
"It was just a little unfortunate, really. Just trying to play the game and it happened. I have to serve it. Like I said, I respect the process. I'm glad that I was able to say something. All things together, I'm not a very good lawyer, I guess, "he concluded with a smile.
.@ CMcAvoy44 On his one-game suspension: "Respect the process, I respect their decision, I just want to be in the game. pic.twitter.com/PUkuKRZT2p
– Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) May 8, 2019
The 21-year-old had two-minute minor penalty for an illegal hit to the head, which came with 23 seconds in the second period of the Bruins' 3-0 series-clinching win. In the past, the league said McAvoy's hit delivered "direct and forceful" contact to Anderson's head, and it could've been avoided.
Anderson returned to the ice for the start of the third period and appeared to make amends with McAvoy in the postgame handshake line. The Bruins defenseman does not intend to alter his approach moving forward.
"I can not change the kind of player I am," McAvoy said. "I do not think I'm a dirty player by any means. I think this was just a tough circumstance. I was trying to deliver a legal check. I felt that, for the most part, I had a really good amount of body, a healthy amount of body. I thought it was a full body check. "
While noting he will be disappointed he will not be able to help the Bruins in the series opener against the Carolina Hurricanes, McAvoy said he plans to use some of the "bumps and bruises" and reset mentally.
"I did not see what I was doing, trying to get dirty," McAvoy said. "It was just time and place and it happened. It was unfortunate. I'm dealing with it. We're on to Carolina now. For me personally, I'm on everything I can to be ready to go. "
The Bruins, without McAvoy, face the Hurricanes at 8 pm Thursday at TD Garden.
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