Brad Marchand didn’t speak to the media following the Bruins’ win over the Detroit Red Wings despite having a pretty eventful night. The pesky forward scored his first goal of the season, and perhaps more notably, he was the recipient of a seemingly questionable hit from Justin Abdelkader.
Marchand, who isn’t afraid to speak his mind about things, talked after B’s practice Tuesday, and those looking for a biting quip out of the forward will be disappointed. He took no issue with the hit.
“He was coming through the slot and saw me at the last second,” Marchand told reporters Tuesday, according to the Boston Herald. “He was trying to protect himself and I have no hard feelings.”
Abdelkader appeared to leave his feet to deliver the hit to Marchand that caught the winger up near the head. Marchand lay motionless on the ice for a few moments before skating off and heading down the tunnel to the Boston dressing room. He returned after missing just a shift.
The NHL took no issue with the hit, either. NHL senior vice president of player safety Brendan Shanahan tweeted Saturday night that the play was an “accidental collision.” That was in spite of the fact that Abdelkader has been suspended before for launching himself at a player with another high hit.
See the hit in question below.
