Bruins’ Marchand a game-time decision for Game 6 against Panthers

Marchand has missed the last two games of the series after leaving Game 3 early due to an injury. In the first period of last Friday’s game, Marchand took a hit from the Panthers’ Sam Bennett. While Marchand played the first two periods, he did not come out for the third.

During his time out of the lineup, Florida won Game 4 in Boston, before the Bruins pulled out a 2-1 win to stave off elimination on Tuesday.

Marchand was transparent about what happened when speaking to the media on Thursday. He explained how he believed Bennett “got away with this shot,” and admitted that in the playoffs, players are “trying to hurt every player on the other team.” It was refreshing to see a player open up about the ramped physical play in the postseason.

The Halifax, Nova Scotia native has been a big-time player in the playoffs for the Bruins over the years. He had scored three goals and 10 points in Boston’s 10 playoff games. He scored eight points in the team’s opening-round series against the Toronto Maple Leafs, doing so in the first four games against the Leafs. Marchand registered two goals and an assist in the Bruins’ 4-2 win in Game 3 last month.

Marchand scored 29 goals and 67 points in 82 games during the regular season, the ninth straight season where the 35-year-old has hit the 60-point mark. It was also the first time since the 2013-14 season that he played the entire regular season. Marchand had been banged up in stretches over the last two campaigns.

In 1,029 games, Marchand has scored 401 goals and 929 points, including scoring 56 goals and 138 points in 156 career playoff appearances.

Game 6 from TD Garden is set for 7 p.m. ET on Friday night.