Bruins' Andrew Ference Suspended Three Games For Hit Vs. Rangers

On Sunday, the NHL suspended Boston Bruins defenseman Andrew Ference for three games after his hit on New York Rangers defenseman Ryan McDonagh. Ference will reportedly forfeit $36,486.48 in salary during the suspension.

Ference's hit came on Saturday, when he was assessed a five-minute major penalty for charging in the final minutes of overtime in the game between the Bruins and Rangers. Ference was assessed a game misconduct, and was ejected from the game. Because of the man advantage, the Rangers went on to score a power-play goal with just under four seconds left in the game for the win over the Bruins.

While he has yet to comment on the suspension, Ference commented on the matter immediately after the game. For Ference, he believed he was just in the wrong place at the wrong time.

"I'm obviously going as fast as I can to try to get to the puck and I realized I wasn't going to get there first, he boxed me out and I leaned back, but I was going too fast," Ference said. "Obviously, it was a dangerous position. I tried to let up, didn't let up enough, fast enough." (via ESPN Boston)

During Ference's absence, the team will utilize reserve defenseman Steven Kampfer in his place. Kampfer was recalled from Providence just after the Bruins' loss on Saturday.

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