Bruins
“Additional time is a giant alternative and also you gotta earn that proper. It is a part of the sport.”
The Bruins had been in determined want of a spark in time beyond regulation towards the Senators on Saturday.
However even with Boston reeling after coughing up a two-goal result in Ottawa within the third interval, Brad Marchand didn’t contact the ice within the further body at Canadian Tire Centre.
With out Marchand — one of many few confirmed scorers on Boston’s roster (16 targets this season, 21 profession time beyond regulation targets) — the Bruins couldn’t bury one other puck previous Ottawa goalie Leevi Merilainen en path to a crushing 6-5 shootout loss.
It was an unpleasant consequence for the Bruins, who held a 5-3 lead with below 4 minutes to go in regulation. To additional twist the knife, the loss bumped Boston out of the playoff area for the primary time for the reason that finish of November.
Talking after the loss, Bruins interim head coach Joe Sacco didn’t supply a lot in regards to the choice to maintain Marchand off the ice in crunch time — confirming that the Bruins captain was not injured, earlier than including that it was a coach’s choice.
Talking on Sunday at Warrior Ice Area, Sacco as soon as once more declined to elaborate on what precisely led to him benching Marchand after the Sens tied Saturday’s sport.
“It was simply an in-game choice that I made,” Sacco stated. “Marchy and I are on the identical web page. So I do know that he’ll be — figuring out Marchy and the best way he prepares and the best way he works, he’ll be able to go tomorrow [vs. San Jose].
“He’s a real professional, so he’ll be able to go. He’s dialed in all the best way, one hundred pc. It was simply any sport choice that we made.”
As indicated by the ultimate rating, Saturday’s displaying was removed from a stellar displaying defensively from Boston — with Marchand included.
Whereas the 36-year-old captain was removed from the one Bruins skater to commit a defensive gaffe on Saturday (a number of failed clears from Elias Lindholm arrange Ottawa’s fourth purpose), Marchand did fail to choose up Josh Norris in protection simply seconds earlier than Norris beat Jeremy Swayman to power time beyond regulation.
Regardless of the optics that include being stapled to the bench, Boston’s captain accepted the punishment when requested of Sacco’s choice Sunday.
“He’s going to make the choice primarily based on how he feels these guys are taking part in every evening. So, I get it,” Marchand stated. “It’s one thing I’ve to do higher … My particulars weren’t ok. In a sport like that, they should be spot on. And clearly, time beyond regulation is a giant alternative and also you gotta earn that proper. It’s a part of the sport.”
The 2024-25 season has already been a tumultuous marketing campaign for the Bruins. However these previous couple of months have been significantly eventful for Marchand in his second marketing campaign as Boston’s captain.
Be it Marchand snuffing out sports activities radio discuss an icy relationship with David Pastrnak, getting shoved by Jim Montgomery after an on-ice miscue earlier this season, or this latest benching — and the Bruins winger has needed to navigate a number of distractions in an already making an attempt 12 months.
Marchand and the Bruins will look to get again on observe Monday once they host the San Jose Sharks in a matinee matchup at TD Backyard.
“Clearly we didn’t get the result that we should always have had. … There’s nothing you are able to do about at this level, rectify a pair issues and get ready for the following one,” Marchand stated. “That’s all we will do. We’ve bought to proceed to construct.
“Nonetheless plenty of time left right here, and may’t get caught up in what’s occurred. You bought to have a look at issues that we bought to do higher, and work on that and prepare to the following one.”
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