
Image credits: Bruce Bennett/Getty Images
The Boston Bruins suffered a significant blow when their captain, Brad Marchand, left Saturday's game against the Pittsburgh Penguins with an upper-body injury. Marchand departed after a hit by Penguins defenseman P.O Joseph at 5:56 of the first period, where he was driven into the corner and his head struck the boards. No penalty was called on the play, but the Bruins went on to score at 6:33, taking a 2-0 lead. Marchand was attended to by a trainer for several minutes before being helped off the ice.
Later in the period, Joseph also left the game with an upper-body injury after taking a hit from Bruins forward Mark Kastelic. Marchand has been a key player for the Bruins this season, with 21 goals and 26 assists in 61 games, making him the second-highest scorer on the team with 47 points. The 36-year-old forward has also registered 62 penalty minutes and a minus-eight rating. Marchand's injury is a concern for the Bruins, who are currently 28-25-8 and two points back of the Detroit Red Wings for the second wildcard seed in the Eastern Conference.
Marchand will not play Sunday versus the Minnesota Wild due to his injury, but he traveled with the team to Minnesota and will be re-evaluated on Monday upon the team's return from its two-game road trip. The veteran forward has had a successful career with the Bruins, recording 422 goals and 554 assists for 976 points in 1,090 career contests, ranking fifth all-time in franchise scoring. Marchand has also posted 56 goals and 82 assists for 138 points through 157 postseason appearances, including a Stanley Cup win in 2011. He was named captain of the Bruins in September 2023, becoming the 27th player to wear the 'C' in Boston.
The Bruins' schedule for the upcoming week includes games against the Minnesota Wild and the Detroit Red Wings, with the following schedule:
- Sunday: at Minnesota Wild
- Tuesday: at Detroit Red Wings
Marchand's injury is a significant blow to the Bruins, but the team is hopeful that he will be able to return to the lineup soon. With his experience and leadership, Marchand is a vital part of the Bruins' success, and his absence will be felt in the coming games. The team will have to work together to overcome his loss and stay in contention for a playoff spot. Marchand's career statistics are a testament to his skill and dedication to the sport, with a total of 976 points in 1,090 games, including:
- Goals: 422
- Assists: 554
- Points: 976
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