Brad Marchand facing lengthy suspension after brutal elbow to the head

Late in the third period of today's day game between the LA Kings and Boston Bruins, one of the NHL's biggest villains in Brad Marchand was back to his usual dirty antics. This time however, he clearly went too far, and may be facing a suspension for a clear elbow to the head of Kings forward Viktor Arvidsson. Amazingly, because it's Boston, there was no penalty on the play.

In the neutral zone, Marchand clearly lines up Arvidsson and steps into him for the hit. However, he loses body position, and sticks his arms out in to make contact. It results in Marchand's elbow clearly clipping Arvidsson directly in the face, and he was seen getting work done on his teeth on the bench.

It's clearly a high and dirty hit from Marchand, which then directs attention to the NHL's department of player safety. Recently, the Habs' Brendan Gallagher received a five game suspension for this hit against Islanders' defenceman Adam Pelech.



Marchand's hit isn't as severe and egregious as Gallagher's, but it could serve as a baseline comparison if the Department of Player Safety decides to move forward with supplemental discipline.