Boston Bruins defenseman Matt Grzelcyk’s wallet is now a little bit lighter.
NHL Player Safety announced that the blueliner has been fined $5,000 — the maximum allowable under the collective bargaining agreement — for spearing Capitals winger Max Pacioretty, well — there’s no better way to say it — in the gonads.
The play in question occurred with 1:47 left in the first period on Saturday as Grzelcyk and Pacioretty battled for position in front of Boston’s net. Grzelcyk was handed a major penalty for the spear to the nether regions and ejected from the game. The play appeared to be in response for a hit Pacioretty delivered earlier in the game.
After the sharp jab from the blade of Grzelcyk’s stick, Pacioretty immediately was rolling around on the ice in pain before officials blew their whistles. John Carlson and head athletic trainer Jason Serbus helped Patches get off the ice and he departed straight for the locker room.
Once the ouchie passed, Pacioretty returned to the game and grabbed the primary assist on TJ Oshie’s power-play goal just 1:05 into the second period. The veteran forward ended up skating 13:54 of ice time in the 3-0 win and earned an extra $500,000 in performance bonuses for playing in his 15th game this season.
Grzelcyk has not been fined or suspended before in his career until this incident.
Boston’s Matt Grzelcyk has been fined $5,000, the maximum allowable under the CBA, for spearing Washington’s Max Pacioretty.
— NHL Player Safety (@NHLPlayerSafety) February 11, 2024
