BOSTON -- The Bruins played without their captain Brad Marchand for the final 20 minutes of Friday night's Game 3 against the Florida Panthers.
Boston announced at the beginning of the third period that Marchand was "unlikely" to return due to an upper body injury.
It's not known exactly when the injury occurred, but Marchand did take a hard hit from Panthers center Sam Bennett during the first period. Marchand crashed into the boards as a result and appeared to be a little shaken up. He didn't go to the locker room and played through the end of the second period.
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The Bruins were trailing 3-0 when Marchand was ruled out, and they eventually lost 6-2. Bruins head coach Jim Montgomery did not have any new details about Marchand's status after the game.
UPDATE (Saturday, May 11 at 1:30 p.m. ET): Bruins head coach Jim Montgomery told reporters after Saturday's practice that Brad Marchand is considered "day to day" with an upper body injury.
Panthers forward Sam Bennett won't be disciplined for his hit on Marchand in the first period of Game 3.
Montgomery had some interesting comments on the Bennett hit after Saturday's practice.
“In real time, my eyes weren’t on there as the puck had left that area,” Montgomery told reporters. “But having seen it, there’s a history there with Bennett. Hard player, but there’s clearly evidence of what went on. People can say it wasn’t intentional, but we have our view of it.”
--End of update--
Losing the veteran left wing for any amount of time is obviously a tough setback for the Bruins. He's one of their best all-around players, and also a key contributor on the power play and penalty kill.
Marchand entered Game 3 as the Bruins' leading scorer in the playoffs with 10 points (three goals, seven assists) through the first nine games -- four points higher than any of his teammates.
Game 4 of the series is Sunday night at TD Garden, with puck drop at 6:30 p.m. ET.
