Marchand suspended two games for spear

BOSTON — The Boston Bruins are going to be without leading scorer Brad Marchand for the rest of the regular season.

The Bruins forward who has 85 points (39 goals, 46 assists) was suspended two games by the NHL on Thursday for a spearing incident against Tampa Bay defenceman Jake Dotchin in a 4-0 Bruins win on Tuesday.

Boston, which clinched a berth in the Stanley Cup playoffs with that win, has one game left in the regular season after losing 2-1 in overtime to Ottawa on Thursday night. They play Washington on Saturday.

Marchand was given a fiveminute major penalty for spearing and a game misconduct at 19:20 of the first period Tuesday after he lifted his stick with force into Dotchin’s groin area while battling in front of the Lightning net.

“It was definitely very, very selfish and undisciplined,” Marchand said. “But you can’t do anything about it now, and the most important thing is we’re in the playoffs and regardless of who we have to play, we have to do the job. We’re still a very capable team on the ice. They won a huge game without me the other night and they’re going to be ready to play regardless.”

In issuing the suspension the league said in an explanatory video that Marchand’s history affected its decision. Marchand was suspended four times for 12 games total prior to this punishment. He was also fined three times, including $10,000 for slewfooting Detroit defenceman Niklas Kronwall in January.

Marchand will lose $109,756.10 based on his annual salary.

“I’m not really concerned about how anyone feels outside of the room,” Marchand said. “Things happen in hockey and again the only people I care about in this world are my teammates and my family. And I think that they have different thoughts about me.”