The Boston Bruins’ Stanley Cup hopes were dealt a massive blow, and fans aren’t just worried—they’re angry about how it happened. Brad Marchand suffered an upper-body injury in Saturday’s game against the Penguins, and the fallout is already being felt in Boston. But the worst part? The NHL referees got the call wrong, many say, and one of the league’s most dominant players was left vulnerable to injury.
NHL, Eishockey Herren, USA Buffalo Sabres at Boston Bruins Mar 2, 2023 Boston, Massachusetts, USA Buffalo Sabres center Peyton Krebs 19 checks Boston Bruins left wing Brad Marchand 63 during the second period at TD Garden. Boston TD Garden Massachusetts USA, EDITORIAL USE ONLY PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xWinslowxTownsonx 20230203_wwt_bt1_012
The hit, delivered by P.O. Joseph, wasn’t referred to as a major penalty, and that’s what has people outraged. Bruins analyst Andy Brickley wasn’t afraid to speak his mind about the play during a live interview on The Hockey Hub:
“I think the referees, 100% of the time, have to use the tools available to them, even if they think there was no way that was a major penalty.”
Marchand appeared to lose an edge just before the collision, but slow-motion replays show Joseph’s stick may have been the culprit, so it was at least worthy of a minor penalty. No call was made, however, and now Boston is without its captain at the most critical time of the year.
With the trade deadline approaching, the Bruins now have an enormous decision to make—can they afford to proceed without their biggest leader on the ice?
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