Bruins' McAvoy suspended 1 game for hit on Blue Jackets' Anderson

Boston Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy was handed a one-game ban on Tuesday for his hit to the head of Columbus Blue Jackets forward Josh Anderson in Game 6, the NHL Department of Player Safety announced.

McAvoy will be unavailable for the Bruins in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Final against the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday.

McAvoy was handed a two-minute minor for the illegal check to the head on the play. Anderson was shaken up after the second-period hit but stayed in Monday's contest. The Blue Jackets went on to lose the game and series.

The 21-year-old sophomore has been the backbone of a strong Bruins' blue line this postseason, logging a team-high 322 minutes - 26 more than any of his teammates - and mostly against the opponent's top talents.

Playing in his second NHL season, this is the first time McAvoy has faced supplemental discipline.