HOCKEY
Bruins' Marchand handed five-game ban for hit on Johansson
Boston Bruins winger Brad Marchand has been suspended for five games after his hit on New Jersey Devils winger Marcus Johansson.
Marchand received the ban for the incident during Boston's 3-2 win over New Jersey in the NHL on Tuesday.
This is Marchand's sixth career suspension. The NHL cited his "repeat offender" status for the five-game ban.
"Marchand lunges both up and into Johansson, swinging his elbow forward through Johansson's head," the NHL Department of Player Safety said in a statement.
"This is an offensive, not a defensive manoeuvre and cannot be excused as accidental or defensive contact."
An All-Star, Marchand has scored 21 goals and added 29 assists for the Bruins this season, with Boston second in the Atlantic Division.
The Devils will update Johansson's condition on Thursday.