The Boston Bruins trail 1-2 heading into Game 4 on Sunday night against the Florida Panthers. An injury to one of their best players makes the must-win matchup even more difficult.
In a news conference on Sunday morning, Bruins head coach Jim Montgomery said captain Brad Marchand will not play in Game 4.
Jim Montgomery provides a lineup update for tonight's game: "Marchand is out tonight...he's doing well it's day to day...Heinen is a option for tonight." pic.twitter.com/nYMfaGxj7p
— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) May 12, 2024
The 36-year-old left winger suffered an upper-body injury after colliding with Panthers center Sam Bennett in the first period of Game 3 on Friday. Marchand exited the game before the start of the third period.
"There's a history there with Bennett. There's clearly evidence of what went on," Montgomery said of the collision on Saturday, per Bleacher Report. "People can say it wasn't intentional. We have our view of it."
“People can say it wasn’t intentional, but we have our view of it.”
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) May 11, 2024
Jim Montgomery‘s full comments on the Sam Bennett-Brad Marchand collision that injured the Bruins captain. pic.twitter.com/1sgAehh4QH
Bennett was fined last postseason when he cross-checked left winger Michael Bunting in Florida's second-round series against the Toronto Maple Leafs. However, Panthers head coach Paul Maurice said what happened with Marchand "was just a collision," via Sportsnet.
Regardless, Marchand's injury is a massive loss for the Bruins. This postseason, he leads the team in points (10 in 10 games) and is tied for second in goals (three).
Left winger Danton Heinen — cleared to return from an undisclosed injury, per Montgomery— may fill in for Marchand. This postseason, he has logged one assist in five games.
Anticipate Boston using Marchand's injury as motivation. Bruins center Pavel Zacha noted they want to send a message in Game 4.
"I think we have to really go after their top guys," Zacha told ESPN's Greg Wyshyniski. "To let them know it's not OK. To go after our captain, that's not OK with us. We're ready to be physical again today and be a little bit harder on them."
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