FOXBORO, Mass. — Replacing Brad Marchand in the NHL Winter Classic during his best season as a pro will be a difficult task.
The Boston Bruins winger was suspended three games for a hit on Ottawa Senators defenseman Mark Borowiecki on Tuesday night, meaning he’ll miss Friday’s outdoor game against the Montreal Canadiens at Gillette Stadium. Boston already was without top-six center David Krejci because of an upper body injury.
Marchand is on pace for a career high in goals scored and has continued to be a defensive force, a strong driver of puck possession and a reliable penalty killer.
“It’s definitely a tough situation, but there’s not much we can do,” Bruins winger Loui Eriksson said Thursday. “We need people stepping up and playing good for (the people missing) and themselves. I still think we have good players on this team to play a good game and get wins. We just need to step up here and play hard.”
Similar to the New England Patriots, the Bruins will adopt the “next man up” mentality, and forward Seth Griffith is expected to slide into Marchand’s spot on Boston’s top line after skating next to Eriksson and Patrice Bergeron at Thursday’s practice.
Griffith was recalled from the Providence Bruins earlier in the week, and he understands the type of game he must play alongside two of the NHL’s most intelligent forwards.
“It’s going to be a little different ice conditions out there, so we’re going to have to keep it pretty simple, but I think playing with (Eriksson and Bergeron), they can make good passes all over the ice,” Griffith said. “We’ll just try to play good in our own end and then create some offense when we get our opportunities.”
Griffith made his NHL debut last season and often found himself playing on the second line. His center for a lot of those games was David Krejci, and Griffith believes the experience of playing in a top-six role will help him prepare for Friday’s tilt.
“Playing with skilled players, (Krejci) is one of the most skilled guys in the league, and Bergy is one of the best two-way guys in the league,” Griffith said. “It’s definitely great playing with those guys, and Bergy, he takes pride in his own end first, so for me, I want to make sure I’m taking care of my own end, especially being out there with him.”
It might take a period for Boston’s new-look first line to form some chemistry Friday, but Bergeron isn’t concerned.
“It’s going to be an adjustment. At the same time, I think they’re definitely two great players,” Bergeron said. “Sometimes it is a bit of an adaptation and adjustment, but at the end of the day, I played with Loui before, and I know kind of his tendencies. And Seth is a smart player. He knows where to position himself on the ice.
“It’s got the potential to be a good line, and we just have to go out there and play our game.”
Thumbnail photo via Winslow Townson/USA TODAY Sports Images
