Bruins’ Brad Marchand Voices Out On Sam Bennett Punch For First Time

If you’ve been living under a rock, you may not be aware that Bruins captain Brad Marchand has been sidelined for the past few games due to an upper-body ailment.

It doesn’t matter whether that rock is buried beneath the earth’s crust; you’ve heard people cry about the reason of his injuries.

In Game 3, Marchand received a questionable hit from Panthers forward Sam Bennett, who threw a punch that landed cleanly above his opponent’s shoulders. It was enough to keep Marchand out for nearly a week, but the injury also meant a break in media appearances for the Bruins captain.

He eventually got his moment to speak on Thursday, and he took full advantage.

“He plays hard. “He’s an extremely physical player, a great fit for that group,” Marchand said. “I believe he got away with a shot, but I won’t complain because (crap) happens. It’s a part of playoff hockey. I’ve been on the other end of a lot of plays, and I believe he got away with one, but that’s part of the game, and certainly part of playoff hockey.

“It sucks to be on the other end of it, but such stuff happens, so I’m not going to sit here and moan. I believe he got away with one, but that is what it is.

The Bruins and Panthers each have their thoughts on what happened. Both Jim Montgomery and Paul Maurice made this obvious in the days following the incident, but Marchand surprised everyone by taking the middle path.

Bennett’s hit was hardly clean, but such incidents do occur on a regular basis. It is playoff hockey.

“People don’t want to say it, but part of playoffs is trying to hurt every player on the other team,” Marchand said. “And the more guys you eliminate, the greater your advantage. People don’t say it, but that’s a reality of the game. Every time you step out on the ice, someone is attempting to harm someone.”

Good morning from Warrior.

Brad Marchand is on the ice for Bruins practice, as they gear up for Game 6 against the Panthers tomorrow night. #nhlbruins pic.twitter.com/HHe876b4TY

— Adam Pellerin (@adampellerin) May 16, 2024

Marchand essentially uttered the quiet part aloud but showed minimal judgment toward Bennett.

Marchand described Bennett as a competitor. “The guys on that team compete hard. That’s how you want your team to play in the playoffs. …sometimes guys get harmed. I am not going to complain about it. It is what it is: playoff hockey, which is why winning the cup is so difficult.

“I don’t care if you use hurtful tactics to win. “It’s part of it.”

Marchand’s return to practice on Thursday is a positive sign that he will be able to play in Game 6 on Friday. If he does, the toughness of the Bruins’ already desperate club will undoubtedly increase in a must-win game at TD Garden.