Bruins' Brad Marchand: Receives ban

Marchand was handed a two-game suspension for spearing Thursday.

Analysis:

In an entirely unsurprising decision, Marchand will have to sit out the remainder of the regular season. The Bruins have already secured a playoff berth, but Marchand's absence is a blow in their push to finish as the second- or third-place team in the Atlantic Division, which would prevent them from meeting the Presidents' Trophy-winning Capitals in the first round. From a personal standpoint, Marchand will be denied a chance to reach the 40-goal plateau, as he's currently sitting on 39. This incident and the resulting suspension combine for an unfortunate end to the 2016-17 regular season for Marchand, as he set career highs in scoring and largely stayed out of trouble this year. With Marchand missing, expect Frank Vatrano to enter the lineup and Matt Beleskey to play on the team's first power-play unit.