Bruins GM Don Sweeney offers latest update on Brad Marchand’s injury

We still don’t know if Boston Bruins captain Brad Marchand will play Game 5 of the Eastern Conference second-round playoff series against the Florida Panthers on Tuesday night.

But the veteran left wing will follow the team to Sunrise, Fla., according to B’s general manager Don Sweeney.

“Brad skated today. He’ll travel with the team,” Sweeney said at a press conference Monday, before the team left for Florida. “He’s still day to day.”

When asked if Marchand was feeling and doing better, Sweeney said, “Yep.”

Marchand sustained an upper-body injury as a consequence of a disputed hit by Panthers center Sam Bennett in the first period of Game 3.

Replays show Bennett punching Marchand in the head, but the NHL’s Department of Player Safety did not punish or suspend the Panthers player as a result. He was also not penalized during the game.

Army, Ace and Biz went back to the tape on the shot Sam Bennett gave to Brad Marchand in Game 3 and they got some thoughts 👀 @armdog @ansoncarterla @biznasty2point0 pic.twitter.com/kqJRr2px5V

— NHLonTNT (@NHL_On_TNT) May 12, 2024

Marchand played until the end of the second period in Game 3, but did not play in the third. He also missed Game 4.

The fact that Marchand is able to skate and travel is positive, but he does not appear to be healthy enough to play Game 5.

It’s a must-win game for the Bruins, who trail the series 3-1 after losing Game 4 at home 3-2 on Sunday.