Bruins’ Marchand Out With Injury for Sunday’s Game Against Wild

BOSTON, Mass. — Boston Bruins captain Brad Marchand will not play against the Minnesota Wild on Sunday due to an upper-body injury. Marchand sustained the injury early in the first period during a 3-2 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday.

The incident occurred just 5:56 into the game when Penguins defenseman Pierre-Olivier Joseph hit Marchand from behind, causing him to fall face-first into the boards. Marchand remained on the ice for several minutes before being helped off by his teammate David Pastrnak and a trainer.

“He’s out today. We’ll know more when he gets evaluated when we get back to Boston,” said Bruins head coach Joe Sacco on Sunday. The team announced Marchand’s injury during the second period of Saturday’s game, declaring it unlikely he would return.

In this season, Marchand has been a significant contributor for the Bruins, scoring 21 goals and 26 assists across 61 games, totaling 47 points. He has been an essential part of the team, having been drafted by Boston in the third round of the 2006 NHL Draft and contributing to their 2011 Stanley Cup win. With 976 career points, he ranks fifth in franchise history.

“I didn’t see the play until the replay, so obviously it’s never good to lose your captain and especially a player like ‘Marchy,’ who never lays on the ice,” Pastrnak said following the game. “Hopefully he’s going to be all right and he’ll be back soon enough, because he’s always a big part of our group.”

Marchand’s absence adds to a growing list of injuries for the Bruins, who are already without defensemen Charlie McAvoy and Hampus Lindholm. As the Bruins prepare for Sunday’s matchup, Justin Brazeau will take Marchand’s place in the lineup, while Georgii Merkulov will move to left wing on a line with Charlie Coyle and Elias Lindholm.

Marchand, a four-time All-Star and 36 years old, is in the final year of his eight-year contract and has the potential to become an unrestricted free agent this offseason. He has also recently helped Canada secure victory in the 4 Nations Face-Off, adding one goal in four games last month.

The Bruins currently sit at 28-25-8 and are two points behind for the second wildcard seed in the Eastern Conference.