Bruins' Brad Marchand ruled out for Game 5 vs. Panthers

 

Brad Marchand, the captain of the Boston Bruins, will not be in the starting lineup on Tuesday as they attempt to survive Game 5 of their Stanley Cup playoff series against Florida in the second round.

"[Marchand] is not an option," Bruins' coach Jim Montgomery said after Boston's morning skate.

Marchand will be missing his second consecutive postseason game after suffering an upper-body injury in Game 3 after being struck by Panthers player Sam Bennett. He is regarded as having the illness on a daily basis.

The Bruins are behind the Panthers 3-1 going into Game 5, and Marchand seemed like he was trying to get back in. Though he didn't play on any special teams, he did take part in Boston's skate, which was a hint that he wouldn't be suiting up.

The Bruins are suffering a serious blow with Marchand out of the lineup once more. With three goals and ten points in the playoffs, he leads the squad in scoring. Without him, Boston will now need to salvage their season.

The Bruins were poised to even the series in Game 4, holding a two-goal lead after the first period. But the Panthers tied the score on a goal from Bennett during a third-period power play and then got the game winner later in that frame from captain Aleksander Barkov.

Boston has never come back from a 3-1 series deficit (0-for-25).