The league announced the decision Thursday afternoon. It was made by senior vice president of hockey operations Mike Murphy.
"After reviewing the incident, including speaking with the on-ice officials, I can find no conclusive evidence that Alex Burrows intentionally bit the finger of Patrice Bergeron," Murphy said in a league statement.
There had been precedent for suspending a player for biting. Jarkko Ruutu was suspended for two games in January 2009 for biting Andrew Peters. Had Murphy said that he had seen an intentional bite, his hands may have been tied and he would have had to enforce supplemental discipline on Burrows.
Burrows was given four minutes for roughing during the scrum, which took place at the end of the first period. Bergeron explained to the media after the game that the linesman was aware that Burrows bit Bergeron's finger. Burrows told the linesman that the finger was in his mouth, so he "had to do it," according to Bergeron.
Burrows denied the bite, which was very clearly caught on camera.
"I don't think so," Burrows said, according to The Province. "He had his fingers in my mouth, but I don't think I bit him. He put his hand up and put it in my face and his fingers in my mouth and that's what happened."
