Joe Sacco explains why Brad Marchand didn’t play in overtime, shootout vs. Senators

“No, he wasn’t hurt, no.”
Brad Marchand was benched during the Bruins’ overtime and shootout periods on Saturday. Luke Hales/Getty Images
The Bruins needed a spark in Saturday’s overtime and shootout periods.

They didn’t find one, ultimately falling to the Senators 6-5.

Boston’s team captain, Brad Marchand, didn’t see the ice in overtime or the shootout.

The Bruins’ all-time leading overtime goal-scorer wasn’t on the bench due to injury during those periods. Rather, it was a coach’s decision by head coach Joe Sacco.

Sacco didn’t offer an explanation beyond that while speaking with reporters postgame.

“No, he wasn’t hurt, no. Nope,” he said.

When asked if Marchand’s absence was a coach’s decision, Sacco replied:

“Yeah, yeah.”

Marchand, 36, has netted 21 overtime goals in his 16-season career. He’s scored two of those this season.

As for shootout goals, Marchand has recorded the fifth-most in Bruins history (11) behind Charlie Coyle (12), Tyler Seguin (13), David Krejci (14), and Patrice Bergeron (25).

Given, Marchand didn’t have the best defensive performance on Saturday. He failed to prevent Ottawa’s Josh Norris’s game-tying goal to force overtime, for example.

But for a Boston team that’s collectively struggled mightily on both ends of the ice this season, it’s interesting that Marchand was punished if he is indeed healthy.

Bergeron recently praised his former longtime teammate amid the Bruins’ disappointing season. He also said that he wants Marchand to look out for himself as the team tries to turn things around.

“As a captain … you want to make sure everyone is doing well, but you have to take care of yourself as well,” Bergeron said of Marchand on Wednesday. “But that being said, he’s doing amazing, and I’m just glad that he’s the captain of this franchise.”