Bruins Rookie Receives Fine For Hit In Loss To Ducks

Boston Bruins rookie defenseman Michael Callahan is still seeking his first NHL point.

In his 14th career game, the Bruins got routed by the Anaheim Ducks, and the Franklin, Mass. native landed in the boxscore for the first time — just not in the most positive way.

Callahan found himself in the penalty box for seven minutes in the loss for a cross-checking minor and the first fighting major of his career. The cross-check to Anaheim forward Jansen Harkins would have been a double-minor, but Nikita Nesterenko scored the Ducks’ second goal of the game during the play, so the penalty was reduced to two minutes.

Harkins obviously took exception to the cross check and challenged Callahan to the bout four minutes into the third period.

“I didn’t mean anything by the play that I caught him up,” Callahan told reporters in Anaheim after the loss. “My stick was too high, and he was in a vulnerable position that I caught him. So, I owed him.”

The NHL’s Department of Player Safety announced Thursday that Callahan was fined $2,018.23, the maximum allowable under the CBA for cross-check.

The Bruins have been riddled with injuries this season — especially on the blue line.

Hampus Lindholm has been out of the lineup since sustaining a lower-body injury in Boston’s win over the St. Louis Blues on Nov. 12, and Charlie McAvoy has not played since suffering an upper-body injury during the 4 Nations Face-Off.

In their absence, Bruins interim head coach Joe Sacco has had to utilize Boston’s depth, with Callahan seeing more ice time. He is averaging just under 14 minutes a game, although in some contests, he has seen upwards of 17. Callahan has 11 blocks and five hits while playing in the NHL.

Before being recalled by the Black and Gold, Callahan skated in 43 AHL games in Providence, where he tallied eight points. He scored seven goals and registered 28 assists across 183 games for the Babt B’s.