BOSTON – The NHL Department of Player Safety is busy in their situation room on Thursday night after the second period string of events in Boston’s 3-2 loss to the Colorado Avalanche at TD Garden. Colorado captain Gabriel Landeskog was ejected from the win nearly six minutes into the second period when he drilled Brad Marchand with a high blindside hit that sent the Bruins agitator spinning down to the ice.



Landeskog was slapped with a match penalty for his check to the head, and was done for the evening as a result. Marchand has a history of concussions, but didn’t seem to suffer any ill effects from the head shot as he raced over to Landeskog and slugged the apologetic Swedish forward in the jaw in retaliation for his dangerous hit. The punch landed Marchand in the box for two minutes, and wiped out a big portion of the potential five minute power play following the major penalty.



“Any time you get hit in the head, you know, you’re a little concerned…especially when I got a concussion a couple weeks back, so I was definitely nervous. But I think I’m okay,” said Marchand. “Things happen quickly. I know that I’ve been there. I’m sure [Landeskog] didn’t mean it. I don’t think he’s a dirty player so, you know…it’s hockey. It is what it is.”



A source indicated to CSNNE.com that both Landeskog and Marchand are being reviewed by the NHL Department of Player Safety: Landeskog for his reckless check on Marchand, and the B’s left winger for his reactionary “sucker punch” of the Avs forward.



At the heart of the NHL’s supplemental discipline decision on Landeskog will be whether or not Marchand’s head was the main point of contact as it appeared there was plenty of shoulder-to-shoulder contact between the two players. The Avalanche forward was apologetic following the game, but pretty adamant he felt like the main point of contact on his hit was Marchand’s shoulder.



“I tried to let up, and then I tried to skate up and apologize and tell him I didn’t mean to come across. Obviously he wasn’t hurt with that sucker punch,” said Landeskog. “I’m happy he didn’t get hurt. I feel like the principle point of contact was shoulder and, like I said, I’m happy he didn’t get hurt.”



Landeskog was fined for punching Mikko Koivu at the end of an Avalanche/Wild game last season, but has never been suspended by the NHL in his five year career.