Boston Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy will appeal his four-game suspension for an illegal check to the head of Florida Panthers defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson.
NHL commissioner Gary Bettman will hear the appeal. His determination will be the final step in the appeals process. Since the suspension is lower than six games and did not involve an in-person hearing with the NHL Department of Player Safety, McAvoy is ineligible to appeal Bettman's decision to a neutral arbitrator.
Bettman could uphold the current suspension, reduce it or increase it.
In Monday's overtime win over Florida, McAvoy received a match penalty at 9 minutes, 24 seconds of the third period for delivering a check that made Ekman-Larsson's head the main point of contact.