No, he wasn’t hurt, no.” The post Joe Sacco explains why Brad Marchand didn’t play in overtime, shootout vs. Senators appeared first on Boston.com.

Brad Marchand was clearly not at his best in the Bruins’ 6-5 shootout loss to the Ottawa Senators on Saturday. He had trouble handling the puck most of the afternoon and was slow to close on Josh Norris before the Senator scored the tying goal with 12 seconds left in regulation.

If he can’t go, the Bruins will be down several veterans. In addition to Hampus Lindholm, who is already out, Boston out both Charlie McAvoy and Mark Kastelic on injured reserve on Tuesday.

After the Bruins' brutal loss, head coach Joe Sacco made some serious changes to the club's lines at practice. After being scratched last game, Oliver Wahlstrom skated on the first line at practice. Morgan Geekie also moved down the middle, while David Pastrnak played at right wing.

Marchand was on the bench Saturday as the Bruins finished up a shootout loss in Ottawa. He practiced Sunday and is expected to resume a prominent role Monday against the Sharks.

Coyle will start the game on the third line on the wing with Matt Poitras, who returns at center and Trent Frederic. Vinni Lettieri will play his first game in Boston this season in Coyle’s regular spot with Elias Lindholm and Brad Marchand. Oliver Wahlstrom will sit out with Coyle available.

Lindholm has been a 22-point flop. He is signed for six more seasons with no-move protection through 2029. Lindholm, 30, is practically untradeable, even if the Bruins eat part of his remaining salary.

The Boston Bruins have to make the decision of whether they want to keep Captain Brad Marchand around for long. Marchand is currently playing out his final, eight-year $49 Million deal which paid him an AAV of $6.125 Million. A team-friendly deal, as Marchand wants the team to weaponize the cap to win a Stanley Cup.

THROUGH GAMES OF SUNDAY, JAN. 19, 2025

The Ottawa Senators kicked off Hockey Day in Canada in dramatic fashion.

The Senators' shootout win over the Bruins encapsulated everything we love about hockey — beautiful goals, crazy saves, an unbelievable comeback and even some fisticuffs. It was the sport at its purest and best.

In a wildly entertaining and raucous game, the Bruins had their most emotional win of the season in their grasp only to cough up a two-goal lead late in the final 3:13 of regulation and lose in a shootoout.