If Boston Bruins captain Brad Marchand appears to be like to his proper Saturday evening and sees Sam Bennett, the response might be slightly totally different than we’ve come to anticipate.
Based mostly on what we noticed from Group Canada on Friday, Bennett, the Florida Panthers middle, will probably draw into the lineup Saturday evening when the Canadians tackle Group USA within the 4 Nations Face-Off.
And when he does so, Marchand is anticipated to be driving shotgun to his left on a line that additionally contains Carolina Hurricanes ahead Seth Jarvis.
Now, that clearly is a fairly good line of hockey gamers, and it’s even higher when you think about it may be Canada’s fourth line. That mentioned, Marchand and Bennett may need to place apart any lingering animosity they may have. Bennett put Marchand briefly on the shelf final spring when the Bruins and Panthers performed within the second spherical of the Stanley Cup playoffs. Bennett punched Marchand within the face, as the 2 collided close to the benches in Recreation 3.
For no matter purpose, the NHL didn’t see an alternate angle of the punch till days after the sport and didn’t hand out supplemental self-discipline. Marchand missed two video games, presumably with some type of head damage, earlier than returning for Recreation 6 just for Florida to eradicate the B’s for a second straight season.
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Marchand, to his credit score, didn’t make an enormous deal out of it on the time, as an alternative simply saying he felt Bennett received away with one. He reiterated that time when the Bruins opened the 2024-25 season towards the Panthers in Florida. That sport largely went off with none main incident, save for a pair of matching roughing penalties when Bennett and Trent Frederic almost got here to blows halfway by means of the primary.
Nicely, that, and operating Joonas Korpisalo later within the sport.
The primary two video games of the 4 Nations Face-Off have been pleasantly aggressive. These groups wish to win the match. Meaning Marchand and Bennett shouldn’t have any drawback placing their previous behind them Friday evening.
That doesn’t imply there gained’t be stress at Bell Centre, although. There’s no love misplaced between Canada and Group USA. There’s additionally some added intrigue with Bennett’s teammate, Matthew Tkachuk, skating on a line together with his brother, Brady, and Jack Eichel. That line with its mixture of talent and grit is an enormous purpose Bennett will draw into the lineup.
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As Canada head coach Jon Cooper instructed reporters Friday, it will likely be fascinating to see Bennett and Matthew Tkachuk doubtlessly combating for area on the ice. Likelihood is, Marchand gained’t be distant, maybe to the chagrin of (American) followers of the Bruins.
