BOSTON — Brad Marchand is day-to-day with an upper body injury after a collision with Florida Panthers forward Sam Bennett in Game 3 that the Boston Bruins said might have crossed the line.
The Bruins captain's status for Game 4 on Sunday is uncertain. He didn't practice with the team Saturday. Marchand is the Bruins' leading scorer in the playoffs with 10 points in 10 games (3 goals, 7 assists).
The Panthers lead the series 2-1 after a 6-2 victory in Boston on Friday night.
Some on social media believed a slow-motion replay shows Bennett making contact with Marchand's head using his right glove as the Boston winger went for a check. Andrew Raycroft, a former NHL goaltender who covers the Bruins for NESN, called it «a sucker punch, not a reverse hit.»
A source told ESPN that the NHL department of player safety will not discipline Bennett for the play, which did not receive a penalty from the on-ice officials.
Bruins coach Jim Montgomery didn't see the incident in real time but «having seen [the replay], there's a history there with Bennett. He's a good, hard player, but there's clearly evidence of what went on. People can say it wasn't intentional. We have our view of it.»
The Bruins coach said the history with Bennett isn't with Marchand in particular, but in delivering that kind of blow on previous hits.
In the Panthers' series against the Toronto Maple Leafs last season, for example, Bennett's right glove made contact with the face of forward Matthew Knies before Bennett slammed Knies to the ice. Knies was concussed on the play and some said Bennett had delivered a sneaky punch to the Toronto rookie.
Florida coach Paul Maurice said he didn't believe Bennett punched Marchand.
«No, and I don't think most of you would've
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