Despite the looming uncertainty of Patrice Bergeron's status before the Boston Bruins start their 2023 Stanley Cup playoff run, Brad Marchand isn't concerned.
Bergeron, who was removed from Boston's regular-season finale against the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday, still has his status in question for Game 1 against the Florida Panthers on Monday night. Boston announced he was pulled due to "precautionary" reasons linked to an upper-body injury. This presents an obvious and understandable postseason concern after a record-shattering regular season.
However, Marchand calmed any worries about Boston's captain and offered a positive perspective on Bergeron's status.
"He's obviously a huge piece to the group and he always leans on and off the ice, regardless if he's on the ice practicing or not," Marchand told reporters Sunday, per team-provided video. "So it's not a big deal. He's taken rest days throughout the year just to make sure he's feeling good. Someone's not feeling well this time of year then it's just great to have the opportunity to rest up and prepare."
The two are set to take the ice for their 11th postseason as Bruins teammates, and Marchand doesn't envision any delay on those plans. When asked by reporters if he expects Bergeron to suit up and take the ice Monday night, Marchand provided an optimistic response.
"Yeah," Marchand said. "I think he's just sick or something."
Following a 65-win regular season, which the Bruins have noted repeatedly that they're far from content with, Marchand doesn't see a minor Bergeron setback hampering Boston's chances. The B's have shown resilience better than any other team in the league. They've shown an ability to navigate any storm that hits them, whether it'd be a pregame injury or a late-game deficit.
Therefore, it's more than understandable why Marchand has an abundance of confidence in whoever head coach Jim Montgomery sends to take the ice.
"We have a lot of depth. We have a lot of depth, a lot of skill," Marchand said. "Guys that can play physical. So we kind of have a mixed bag. And when you have guys in each line that can play a big, heavy game -- that are physical, that are fast, that have that talent -- it does kind of lend us the ability to play any style. ... We try to make teams adapt to us and it's been a good recipe so far."
The Bruins' playoff opener is set for Monday at 7:30 p.m. ET, and you can watch it live on NESN after an hour of pregame coverage.
