A week after Brad Marchand filed an appeal to commissioner Gary Bettman for Marchand's six-game suspension for roughing and high-sticking Tristan Jarry, Bettman has issued his ruling.
Bettman upheld Marchand's six-game suspension, of which he has already served four games. Marchand still has the option to appeal the suspension to an independent arbitrator, an option that seems unlikely to happen given that Marchand is eligible to play after Monday.
Bettman said in a 14-page explanation of his decision that the six-game suspension "was supported by clear and convincing evidence and is, therefore, affirmed.