Boston Bruins Captain Brad Marchand Suffers Upper-Body Injury Against Pittsburgh Penguins

Image credits: Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

The Boston Bruins were dealt a significant blow in their recent game against the Pittsburgh Penguins, as captain Brad Marchand suffered an upper-body injury in the first period. Marchand was hit by Penguins defenseman P.O Joseph at 5:52, falling face-first into the boards, and was unable to return to the game. The Bruins announced in the second period that Marchand had sustained an upper-body injury and was unlikely to return. The incident occurred on a power play, with Marchand being partially carried to the locker room by teammate David Pastrnak and a trainer.

The Bruins coach, Joe Sacco, expressed concern over the incident, stating that he hadn't heard anything yet regarding Marchand's status and would likely know more the following day. Sacco also mentioned that he thought Marchand was tripped into the boards and that there was a little bit of a shove, which put him in a tough spot. The coach believed that the Bruins should have been on the power play from there. Marchand, a four-time All-Star, has been a crucial player for the Bruins, with 47 points (21 goals, 26 assists) in 61 games this season, his 16th in the NHL. He is fifth in team history with 976 points (422 goals, 554 assists), behind Ray Bourque, Johnny Bucyk, Patrice Bergeron, and Phil Esposito.

The Bruins were able to secure a 3-2 win against the Penguins, despite Marchand's absence, with Mason Lohrei scoring at 6:33 to give the Bruins a 2-0 lead. Later in the period, Joseph took a hit in the corner from Bruins forward Mark Kastelic and left with an upper-body injury. The Bruins' win ended their five-game losing streak and improved their record to 28-25-8. With Marchand's status unknown, the Bruins will likely insert Justin Brazeau into the lineup for their upcoming game against the Minnesota Wild on Sunday. The team's injury report will be closely monitored, and fans will be hoping for a speedy recovery for their captain. The NHL will also be keeping a close eye on the situation, as Marchand's absence could have significant implications for the Bruins' playoff hopes.

The incident has sparked debate over the severity of the hit and whether it warranted a penalty. David Pastrnak, who helped Marchand off the ice, expressed his concern over the no-call, stating that it was "crazy" and that he thought it was especially egregious given that Marchand was injured. The Bruins' interim head coach, Joe Sacco, also shared his thoughts on the play, stating that he thought Marchand was tripped into the boards and that there was a little bit of a shove, which put him in a tough spot. As the Bruins move forward, they will be hoping that Marchand's injury is not too severe and that he can return to the lineup soon.

Here are the match scores and player statistics from the game:

• Boston Bruins: 3
• Pittsburgh Penguins: 2

• Games played: 61
• Goals: 21
• Assists: 26
• Points: 47

1. Sunday: vs. Minnesota Wild

1. Boston Bruins: 28-25-8