Boston Bruins left winger Brad Marchand got into a slew of trouble.

Marchand was handed a two-game suspension without pay on Saturday for a slew-foot infraction on New York center Derick Brassard in Thursday night’s 3-0 victory over the Rangers at the Garden.

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Given his history, Boston Bruins winger Brad Marchand, shown stickhandling against the Carolina Hurricanes, might be lucky that he drew only a two-game suspension for an infraction against the New York Rangers last Thursday. Marchand has been suspended on two other occasions for illegal hits. The Associated Press

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WHO: Bruins at Stars

WHEN: 8:30 p.m. Tuesday

TELEVISION: NESN

Post by Maine Audubon.

The league conducted a phone hearing with Marchand, who did not play in Saturday night’s game with the Columbus Blue Jackets, and will also miss Tuesday night’s game at Dallas.

Marchand drew his third suspension but actually got off easy despite his troubled history. Dallas Stars forward Ryan Garbutt drew a three-game suspension on Dec. 11 for slew-footing Winnipeg’s Dustin Byfuglien.

A slew-foot infraction is when a player comes from behind an opposing skater and trips the player unexpectedly by dragging the skate.

In the past, Marchand was suspended two games for a hit on R.J. Umberger in the 2010-11 season. He drew a five-game stretch for a low hit on Sami Salo the following season, and was fined $2,500 but not suspended for slew-footing Matt Niskanen in the 2010-11 season.

Bruins Coach Claude Julien anticipated the league’s action and skated Daniel Paille on the second line with Patrice Bergeron and Reilly Smith in practice.

Marchand was unavailable for comment.

JULIEN HAS been happy with the contributions of Boston rookie left winger Craig Cunningham, who was set to play in his 21st NHL game against Columbus.

Cunningham was to skate in Paille’s slot on the fourth line with center Gregory Campbell and winger Jordan Caron.

“He’s a guy we can rely on for faceoffs and versatility is important for us,” said Julien. “He’s a hard worker, he plays hard and practices hard, and he’s a smart player.”

HALL OF FAME radio announcer Bob Wilson, who covered the Bruins for 25 years before retiring in 1995, died Thursday from lung cancer. He was 85.

Born Robert Castellon, he used his mother’s maiden name because a music station he worked for as a young man wanted two syllables to fit a jingle.

Even as a Bruins broadcaster, Wilson chose to live in New Hampshire near Lake Winnipesaukee.

FLYERS: Kimmo Timonen’s blood clots have cleared from his lungs but not his legs, and it is still questionable whether Philadelphia’s veteran defenseman will be able to play again.

General Manager Ron Hextall relayed the doctor’s medical report Saturday. He said Timonen was still optimistic about playing but that a final decision probably will be made after a conference call Wednesday with multiple doctors.

“The biggest thing I want to know is risk – is there a risk? I’m not putting him at risk,” Hextall said. “And I’ve talked to Kimmo, and I know he’s not putting himself at risk. It’s going to be the biggest hurdle, I guess, to try to figure out.”

Timonen, 39, is still hopeful of returning, and Hextall said the defenseman had “guarded optimism.”

“Kimmo wants to play. If everything checks out right, and he wants to play, he can play,” Hextall said. “… He’s also got a decision to make, too. Even if there’s no risk and he doesn’t feel comfortable playing, then we’ll live with that. If he really wants to play and everything from the doctor checks out, then we’ll allow him to play.”

Without Timonen, the Flyers’ defense has struggled.

But if the Flyers continue to sputter, is it worth bringing Timonen back?

“That’s a legitimate question, and that’s one of the things that will certainly be discussed,” Hextall said.

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