Bruins Marchand In Hot Water Again. Bergeron May Be Concussed.

The Boston Bruins may have lost a lot more than a game Tuesday in a 4-2 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Bruins captain Patrice Bergeron could have a concussion and winger Brad Marchand is likely going to be suspended for a match penalty he received for attempting to injure Penguins goalie Tristan Jarry.

After taking an early 2-0 lead in the first period, things went downhill fast for the Boston Bruins. Just as the second period was about to begin, a report – that was immediately confirmed by Boston Hockey Now – broke that veteran goalie Tuukka Rask was about to end his comeback bid and announce his retirement. Then within a span of 8:35 in the middle frame, the Boston Bruins saw their lead evaporate and the Penguins head to the second intermission with a 3-2 lead they wouldn’t relinquish.

The snowballing didn’t end there though as midway through the third period, Penguins captain Sidney Crosby accidentally collided with Bergeron, who fell backward and hit his head against the boards. Bergeron remained on the ice until the next whistle and was helped off the ice. He did not return.

“I don’t know if the concussion [spotter] took him out the way he went into the boards. I wouldn’t be surprised,” Boston Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy said following the game. “When you’re down like that, that’s typically what happens. I didn’t speak to him, and he didn’t come back to the bench. I went into the training room and he wasn’t there. That’s about all I’ve got for right now. Hopefully, he is OK.”

The dark cloud that suddenly hung over the Bruins grew thicker after they lost their captain though. Marchand, who has done a great job of ridding his game of the silliness and crossing the line, seemingly lost his mind with Penguins goalie Tristan Jarry. At the end of the second period, Marchand stole a puck from Jarry just as he was about to flip it to a fan. Then at the end of the game, Marchand basically snapped on the Penguins goalie, cross-checking him and then circling back and jabbing Jarry in the face.

Marchand received a two-minute minor for roughing and was given a five-minute major and match penalty for an attempt to injure. He will likely have a hearing with the Department Of Player Safety Wednesday and a suspension is likely coming.

“I don’t know, that happened quick,” Cassidy said. “Honestly, lack of discipline, obviously, on Brad’s part in that situation…I just watched the replay at the end, it looks like some words were exchanged. I don’t know if there was an incident in the second period that precipitated it. I wasn’t in the room, I don’t know. Someone said that.

Still, gotta have better discipline at the end of the day. Brad’s a leader on the team and he needs to control his emotions in that situation.”

Thanks to Marchand’s lack of discipline and just pure bad luck on the Bergeron injury, the Boston Bruins could head into their game with the Carolina Hurricanes – who have owned them this season – without arguably their two best players.