Marchand suspended five games, can represent Bruins at All-Star Weekend

Brad Marchand was
suspended five games
by the NHL Department of Player Safety on Wednesday but is eligible to play in the 2018 Honda NHL All-Star Game on Sunday.

The Boston Bruins forward was punished for elbowing New Jersey Devils forward Marcus Johansson with 1:59 remaining in the third period of their game Tuesday.
Marchand has not said if he plans to attend 2018 Honda NHL All-Star Weekend at Tampa Bay.
NHL rules do not prohibit someone under League suspension from playing in the NHL All-Star Game. Washington Capitals forward Alex Ovechkin withdrew from the 2012 All-Star Game after he was suspended three games for charging Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Zbynek Michalek.
"I feel I'm not deserving to be there right now," Ovechkin said then. "If I'm suspended, I have to be suspended."
Los Angeles Kings goaltender Jonathan Quick withdrew from the 2018 All-Star Game on Wednesday because of an injury. A player who is named and does not participate must sit out one regular-season game, the game either immediately preceding or following the All-Star Game. Quick was the backup against the Calgary Flames on Wednesday, Los Angeles' final game before the break.

All-Star Weekend begins Saturday with the 2018 GEICO NHL All-Star Skills Competition (7 p.m. ET; NBCSN, CBC, SN, TVA Sports). The game at Amalie Arena is Sunday (3:30 p.m. ET; NBC, CBC, SN, TVA Sports).
Marchand was fined the maximum $10,000 on Jan. 26 last season, three days before playing in the 2017 All-Star Game, for a dangerous trip of Detroit Red Wings defenseman Niklas Kronwall.
Marchand's suspension will begin Thursday when the Bruins play at the Ottawa Senators. He can return Feb. 7 at the New York Rangers.
Marchand, who previously was suspended five times for a total of 14 games, is considered a repeat offender under the terms of the collective bargaining agreement.
He was suspended two games at the end of last season for spearing Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Jake Dotchin, three games for clipping Ottawa Senators defenseman Mark Borowiecki in 2015-16, two games for slew-footing New York Rangers forward Derick Brassard in 2014-15, five games for clipping Vancouver Canucks defenseman Sami Salo in 2011-12, and two games for elbowing R.J. Umberger of the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2010-11.