Bruins

Brad Marchand returns to Bruins’ lineup for Game 6 vs. Panthers

Brad Marchand is back in Boston's lineup after missing the last two games due to an upper-body injury.

Brad Marchand returned to the lineup for Game 6 vs. the Panthers. AP Photo/Michael Dwyer

May 17, 2024

The captain is back for a do-or-die Game 6.

After being tabbed as a “game-time decision” by Jim Montgomery following Friday’s morning skate, Brad Marchand took part in warmups and earned a spot in Boston’s starting lineup for Game 6 against the Panthers.

Marchand makes his return to the Bruins lineup 👀🐻#NHL | #NHLBruins | #TimeToHunt
pic.twitter.com/O7JyR8JUmx
— The Cam & Strick Podcast (@CamandStrick) May 17, 2024

Marchand missed the last two games against the Panthers after suffering an upper-body injury in Game 3 following a sucker-punch shot from Florida forward Sam Bennett.

He received a thunderous cheer from the TD Garden crowd when he was announced in the starting lineup.

A thunderous cheer for Brad Marchand as he’s introduced in the starting lineup. pic.twitter.com/XlqjibyiRO
— Conor Ryan (@ConorRyan_93) May 17, 2024

Speaking on Thursday after his first full practice session, Marchand opted to not pile on Bennett for his role in putting him on the shelf for two games.

“I’m not gonna complain. [Expletive] happens,” Marchand said of Bennett’s punch. “That’s part of, especially, playoff hockey. I’ve been on the other side of a lot of plays. And I think he got away with one.

“But I mean, that’s part of the game. Definitely a part of playoff hockey. It sucks to be on the other side of it. But that stuff happens … Yeah I think he got away with one. But it is what it is.”

This camera angle is … 😬 pic.twitter.com/9LDZQILde6
— Conor Ryan (@ConorRyan_93) May 12, 2024

Marchand’s return should provide a major lift to a Bruins team trying to overcome a 3-1 series deficit for the first time in franchise history. Boston is 0-25 in best-of-seven series after falling into a 3-1 hole.

Marchand is tied for the team lead in playoff scoring with 10 points in 10 games, while his absence has coincided with a sizable slump in Boston’s power play. The Bruins have cashed in on just one of their 15 opportunities on the man advantage in this series.

“This is what we play for,” Marchand said Thursday. “This is why we started playing hockey and we want to live our dreams — it’s to try to win a Cup … We’re fighting for our lives.

“Guys are excited about that. There’s no ‘poor me’ attitude in this room. It’s a great opportunity and whether it goes our way or not, we’re gonna go in and leave everything we have on the ice and enjoy the moment.”