Florida Panthers’ Sam Bennett (9) hits the boards after checking Boston Bruins’ Brad Marchand (63) during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, April 6, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)AP
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Brad Marchand said he isn’t trying to fix what already happened. The Bruins captain has been around long enough to know better.
So when the Bruins face the Florida Panthers in their season opener on Tuesday night, he’s not trying to get revenge against the team that eliminated the Bruins from the playoffs in the second round last year. He’s trying to win a game against a divisional opponent and get Boston’s season off to a good start in the present.
- BETTING: Check out our MA sports betting guide, where you can learn basic terminology, definitions and how to read odds for those interested in learning how to bet in Massachusetts.
“At the end of the day, this is two points. The way I look at these things is, it doesn’t matter what you do. Nothing changes the past. It’s all about being in the moment, moving forward,” Marchand said. “And we have the same goal this year, different opportunity, and obviously the goal is to not let these guys get in the way of it again. They’re definitely a great team again one that we’re going to have to go through to accomplish our goal.
“I think we’re built a little different this year and hopefully we give ourselves that best opportunity,” he added. “Nothing that happens tonight or at any point moving forward is going to change what happened. At the end of the day, they got the better of us in every play in that series. So it is what it is. You remember it and try to do better next time.”
The same approach applies to facing Sam Bennett, the Panthers forward whose sucker punch gave him a concussion that knocked him out of two games of the best-of-seven playoff series last year.
“That’s part of the playoffs. … In playoff time, if you can knock players out, it only gives your team the advantage. It happens. Teams play very physical. They’re a very physical team, and it’s part of their DNA,” he said. “I don’t play this game expecting to never get hurt. Been on my end of both sides of the shots. It’s part of the game. He definitely got away with one and you see the replay and everything, but that’s how it goes. And I’m not holding any animosity. It is what it is. I’m gonna play just as hard as I always do.”