Bruins D Charlie McAvoy to have hearing with NHL

Boston Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy will have a hearing on Tuesday with the NHL's Department of Player Safety following his check to the head/interference on Florida Panthers blue-liner Oliver Ekman-Larsson.

The hearing will take place over the phone, meaning McAvoy's potential suspension would not be greater than five games.

McAvoy caught Ekman-Larsson's head with his shoulder after the latter already had played the puck at 9:28 of the third period of Monday's game. Ekman-Larsson did not return to the game due to his undisclosed injury.

The Bruins killed off the ensuing five-minute major to McAvoy and went on to post a 3-2 overtime victory over the Panthers. Boston (8-0-1) has notched at least a point in all nine games this season.

McAvoy, 25, is not considered a repeat offender despite receiving his lone career suspension during the 2019 playoffs. He was issued a one-game ban for a hit to the head of then-Columbus Blue Jackets forward Josh Anderson.

McAvoy has totaled eight points (two goals, six assists) and a plus-6 rating in nine games this season.

He has 238 points (43 goals, 195 assists) in 389 career games since being selected by the Bruins with the 14th overall pick of the 2016 NHL Draft.