The Boston Bruins prevailed in an emotional contest against the Florida Panthers, capping off a comeback 3-2 victory over the visiting Cats. The Bruins have battled much adversity all season long in the NHL, especially after moving on from their captain, Brad Marchand. However, after the win over Florida, defenseman Nikita Zadorov sent a straightforward message to Joe Sacco and his teammates about the team’s mindset.
Boston is still alive in the NHL Stanley Cup Playoff race, and victories like their comeback against Florida are exactly what the team needs to climb the standings and get closer to securing a postseason spot.
It’s an uphill battle for the Bruins, though they’re riding a wave of momentum following consecutive wins over Tampa Bay and Florida. However, they now face an equally, if not more, demanding challenge against the Ottawa Senators.
Without a captain in the locker room, many had their doubts about the Bruins’ morale coming off the big roster losses during the trade deadline. However, the team’s character was on full display as the ‘Spoked B’ defeated the reigning champs, after rallying from two goals behind in the third period.
Brad Marchand #63 of the Boston Bruins skates past Morgan Rielly #44 of the Toronto Maple Leafs during the first period at TD Garden on February 25, 2025 in Boston, Massachusetts.
After the game, Zadorov delivered a message that Sacco was excited to hear, especially following the departure of veteran and former captain Marchand from the Bruins.
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“Something’s brewing, for sure,” Zadorov stated, via NHL.com. “It’s just been a lot of ups and downs this year, and I think we’re trying to find this consistency, trying to find this momentum. All the guys since Friday have been showing up, ready to work and play for the crest. There’s no quit in this team, and we’re going to keep pushing until the end. We’re just trying to build the momentum we haven’t had the whole year.”
Marchand makes big admission about the Bruins leaders
There’s no bad blood between Marchand and the Bruins, despite the abrupt ending to their long-lived story. However, the captain’s absence will undeniably impact the locker room going forward, with a new leader having to emerge soon.
While the team hasn’t announced who will wear the ‘C’ during the 2025-26 season, Marchand has the utmost confidence in stars Charlie McAvoy and David Pastrnak.
David Pastrnak #88 of the Boston Bruins warms up prior to playing against the Toronto Maple Leafs in an NHL game at Scotiabank Arena on March 4, 2024 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
“They both lead in different ways,” Marchand stated during media availability. “Especially together, the way I look at is like a [Patrice Bergeron and Zdeno Chara] type thing. They’re co-leaders.”
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Marchand delivers harsh truth about Bruins
Nearly two years have passed since the Bruins’ historic first-round collapse against the Panthers in the 2022-23 Stanley Cup Playoffs, following a record-breaking NHL regular season. Yet, the players from that roster still haven’t been able to shake off the sour taste.
“We definitely dropped the ball on that one. That was our year,” Marchand admitted, via The New York Times. “[The organization] went all in, in the years leading up to that and that season. When you look at an opportunity like that, it doesn’t come along very often We knew there was a window. We maxed that out. We had our opportunity a couple years ago and we fell short.”
Head Coach Joe Sacco of the Boston Bruins looks on against the Chicago Blackhawks during the third period at the United Center on December 04, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois.
Marchand’s comments might not echo within the Bruins’ facility, as Zadorov, Pastrnak, and the stars on Sacco’s roster remain hopeful about a deep postseason run. But first, they must secure a playoff berth.
