How The Boston Bruins Responded To Brad Marchand Injury

Brad Marchand was hit by Sam Bennett in the first period of Game 3 and did not come out to play the third period.

The Boston Bruins could be without their captain for Game 4 against the Florida Panthers.

Brad Marchand took a hit from Sam Bennett in the first period of Friday’s 6-2 loss at TD Garden. While he returned in the opening frame and played in the second period, Marchand did not come out for the final 20 minutes due to an upper-body injury.

Marchand did not participate in team practice Saturday morning and Bruins coach Jim Montgomery listed him as day to day.

Bennett – who skated in his first game since April 23 for the Panthers – bodied Marchand by the Bruins’ bench, causing him to crash into the boards. While there was no call on the play, it looks like Bennett might’ve gotten a punch in, too.

“Having seen it, there’s a history there with Bennett,” Montgomery said Saturday. “Hard player, but there’s clearly evidence of what went on. People could say it wasn’t intentional. We have our view of it.”

Panthers coach Paul Maurice was asked Saturday if he thought Bennett threw a punch at Marchand on the play.

“No. It was just a collision," Maurice said. “In a perfect world, every team has everybody healthy. Nobody likes to see him get hurt.”

If Marchand is unable to go for Game 4 Sunday, the Bruins will have to elevate their game to fill his leadership both on and off the ice. Montgomery said assistant captain Charlie McAvoy did a good job of that in Friday’s third period, and “wills his teammates into battles.”

“You can’t replace Marchy’s leadership. He’s one of one in that term, and he knows what to say and obviously his experience,” McAvoy said Saturday. “Picking up the slack, it’s a group effort. A lot of guys stepped up, a lot of guys talked.”

Marchand, who has 10 points (three goals, seven assists) this postseason, was on the second line with Charlie Coyle and Jake DeBrusk. During Saturday’s practice, DeBrusk was moved up to play with Morgan Geekie and David Pastrnak, while Coyle centered Danton Heinen and Trent Frederic. Heinen has missed the last five games with an undisclosed injury, but could be an option for Game 4.

Montgomery said he has not reached out to the league about the hit on Marchand. In regards to the “history” Montgomery referred to, Bennett was suspended in the 2021 playoffs for a hit on then Tampa Bay Lightning forward Blake Coleman, as well as in the 2021-22 regular season for a hit to the head on then Montreal Canadien Cedric Paquette.

No matter the politics of the hit and injury, Boston must prepare to battle without one of its key pieces. The Bruins trail 2-1 in the second-round series and have the chance to tie things up Sunday in Game 4 at TD Garden with a 6:30 p.m. puck drop.

“I think you’ll see guys take on more responsibility and opportunity and rise to the occasion and do it together,” Coyle said Saturday. “We want to play for guys who are out of the lineup and can’t be in there…We play for each other.”