Bruins

Brad Marchand’s presence looms large in Bruins’ season-saving Game 5 win

“His jersey is still hanging right there. And it will never come down because he's gonna be back in it very soon.”

By Conor Ryan

May 15, 2024

• Facebook
• Twitter
• Email
• Email
• ...

SUNRISE, Fla. — Win or lose, an NHL dressing room is an exercise in controlled chaos after a game. 

As the Bruins packed their bags in eager anticipation of a return trip back to Boston, the team’s equipment staff hurriedly bundled up sticks, stacked up sweaters, and corralled the battle-worn gear from a season-saving, Game 5 win against the Panthers. 

But as skates were scrounged up and gloves sorted through, one thing remained unchanged in the visiting locker room at Amerant Bank Arena. 

A crisp No. 63 sweater — unblemished from the wear and tear doled out through playoff hockey — was left hanging in Brad Marchand’s stall.

It remained in that spot throughout Tuesday’s 2-1 win, serving as a galvanizing reminder of what the Bruins had lost in this second-round bout with the Panthers — and what could be gained by forcing a Game 6 on Friday night. 

“His jersey is still hanging right there,” Jeremy Swayman said of Marchand’s sweater perched in his stall. “And it will never come down because he’s gonna be back in it very soon.”

Marchand — felled by a punch from Panthers antagonist Sam Bennett in Game 3 — has now missed two straight games due to an upper-body injury. 

The 36-year-old captain didn’t see his name etched into any page on Tuesday’s stat sheet. His sharp wrister didn’t pepper Sergei Bobrovsky during Boston’s 13-shot opening salvo in the first, nor did his crisp edge work help Boston tame a furious Florida forecheck in Game 5. 

But even with Marchand unable to take to the ice, his presence was felt throughout Tuesday’s victory, beyond just his sweater. 

Despite getting ruled out for Game 5, Marchand still made the trek down to South Florida with the rest of his teammates on Monday. He took part in morning skate at Amerant Bank Arena, and remained in Boston’s room to deliver a pregame speech before the Bruins took to the ice later that night.

“As a professional athlete, not being able to play and watch the games — sometimes as a player, you don’t recognize how friggin’ nervous you are,” David Pastrnak said of Marchand having to watch Game 5 off the ice. “And I talked to him. I had that in the [2020 postseason] bubble, it’s no fun to watch your team go to battle.

“But he was amazing. He came in between every period, gave a little quick speech. And he was there for us. So we obviously talked and wanted to get him back into the series, and keep extending the series.”

Marchand has long served as an emotional conduit in Boston’s room, even before the “C” was stitched onto his sweater. Whereas Patrice Bergeron channeled communication and compassion during his reign as Boston’s leader, Marchand countered that with his intensity and willingness to drag his teammates into the fight.

That approach from Marchand was put on display during his takeover games in Scotiabank Arena against the Maple Leafs in Round 1, while his production (10 points in 10 playoff games) has been missed against Florida. 

But even with Marchand still on the mend due to Bennett’s jab, Charlie Coyle believes that Marchand’s presence alone at the rink was enough to give Boston a lift in Tuesday’s do-or-die matchup. 

“His leadership, even when he’s not dressed — he’s still in here, he’s still leading,” Coyle acknowledged. “And he does what he can to help the team in whatever way possible. That’s huge. Just to have a guy like that who, yeah, he’s not healthy enough to play, but he shows his commitment and still leads by example. … It goes far beyond his play on the ice.”

Tuesday’s win not only kept Boston’s season going, but it also opened the door for Marchand to potentially rejoin his teammates for Friday’s matchup on Causeway Street. A return for Game 6 is still not a complete guarantee for Marchand, as noted by Boston’s bench boss.

“He’s got steps that he’s got to do — just like any of our players that are day to day and injured— before we think he’s gonna be a full-time player,” Jim Montgomery said of Marchand’s availability moving forward. “So we’re gonna take it day by day.” 

The Bruins managed to keep their season alive on Tuesday with a No. 63 sweater hanging in their dressing room. 

Whatever spark of hope Boston lit on Tuesday will only grow stronger if its captain dons said sweater at TD Garden in just a few days. 

“Having him around is awesome in any capacity,” Charlie McAvoy said of Marchand. “Just his presence for us means a lot and everything that he carries, and what he means to this team. So having him here on this trip — he’s in there during the game and constantly giving us life, giving us positivity, and that means a lot. … We know what he means to this group. 

“And we didn’t say die. We wanted to see this thing go back to Boston and give him a chance to get right and hopefully be back.”