By: Jack Studley | Follow me on Twitter/X @jackstudley13
On Tuesday night, the Boston Bruins (3-4-0) will host a newer rival at the TD Garden. The Florida Panthers (3-4-0) are in town for the only time this season, and this will be the first of three matchups between the teams this year. The Bruins are coming home from a three-game road trip, but the main event is the return of former captain Brad Marchand in his first game against the Boston Bruins. Marchand played 16 years in the black and gold and was traded to Florida at the trade deadline in March.
The Bruins are on a four-game losing streak, with three losses by one goal. The Panthers are also on a four-game skid, losing four straight games, all on the road. They are wrapping up a five-game road trip on Tuesday in Boston. Both teams have seen early success from their penalty kill, ranking in the top ten across the league; the Bruins’ PK is producing at a 90% rate, and Florida’s units are killing at an 83.3% rate.
After serving as a healthy scratch on Sunday night, Casey Mittelstadt will return to the Bruins’ lineup against Florida. Jeffrey Viel will slot into the fourth line, taking the spot that Johnny Beecher occupied in both games over the weekend. Hampus Lindholm will also be playing, and Jordan Harris will be the defensive scratch for the black and gold. Beecher and Marat Khusnutdinov are the extra forwards. Jeremy Swayman was in the starter’s crease, per Fluto Shinzawa of The Athletic.
Florida finished first in the league in hits last season; through seven games this season, they currently rank second with 195. The Bruins ranked third in hits last season and, with 188 in seven games, still rank third. In their final meeting last season, two games after the trade, the Bruins beat Florida 3-2, and pandemonium broke out in the third period; Marchand did not play in that game. The Bruins are 7-2-1 against Florida in their last ten regular-season games.
Brad Marchand played for the Boston Bruins for 16 seasons, playing in 1090 games and scoring 976 points. He scored twice on June 15, 2011, to help the Bruins lift their first Stanley Cup in 39 years. On September 20, 2023, he was named the 27th captain in franchise history. Marchand is the Bruins’ all-time leader in playoff goals and shorthanded goals and ranks fifth in points.
Tonight’s game will start at 7:30 PM and be carried nationally on ESPN. The Bruins are expected to roll out a video tribute to Marchand during the first TV timeout, which has traditionally been at the first whistle after the 14-minute mark of the first period. BNG colleague Tom Calautti will be covering the game on the ninth floor. Please consider giving him a follow!
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