A lot of water has flowed under the Boston Bridge after the Boston Bruins’ left winger, Brad Marchand, took a brutal hit in today’s game against the Pittsburgh Penguins. The game, though, culminated in the Bruins’ victory (3-2). NHL fans and Brad Marchand’s teammates, however, can’t get over the hit by Penguins player, Pierre-Olivier Joseph. And guess what? The hero of today’s game, David Pastrnak, has taken a jab at NHL officiating when the refs allegedly failed to call it a foul and declare a penalty. 

David Pastrnak, who scored his 32nd goal of the season in this game, has criticized the refs. In a YouTube upload by the Boston Bruins, Pastrnak was asked about Brad Marchand’s injury. Pastrnak said, “I mean, I didn’t see the play until the replay. So, now, obviously, it’s never good to lose your captain, you know. And especially players like Mary, who never lays on the ice, you know, and that is not a no-call penalty. That’s a little crazy to me.” 

Upset Davis Pastrnak also added, “I thought it was hit from behind, especially, you know, a player got injured and a guy like Mary who is Pretty Tough uh so obviously hopefully he’s going to be alright.” Apart from Pastrnak, the franchise head coach, Joe Sacco, has delivered a 5-word message and update on Marchand’s injury, saying, “I haven’t heard anything yet.” When asked what he thought about the hit, Sacco said, “I have to look at it [the hit] again. I thought that he was tripped into the boards and there was a little bit of a shove in there too which put him in a tough spot.” He also added that he thought that they “should have at least been on the power play from there.”

Oh man, so in the first period of the Bruins-Penguins game, Pierre-Olivier Joseph from the Penguins straight-up hit Brad Marchand from behind. Marchand went flying into the boards and hit the ice hard. It looked like he messed up his shoulder pretty badly, right? That was it for Marchand, he was done for the night. But somehow, the refs didn’t call anything on Joseph, which really left Pastrnak stunned.

But Mason Lohrei and Charlie Coyle definitely had Pastrnak’s back, and both stepped up big time with their goals. Lohrei ripped one on a power play, and Coyle sealed the deal with an empty-netter. That all helped the Bruins put their ugly 5-game losing streak behind them. Oh, and shout-out to Joonas Korpisalo too, who stood on his head and shut down 29 solid shots from the Penguins.

With both Charlie McAvoy and Hampus Lindholm sustaining long-term injuries, the Boston Bruins need to go safe, as their playoff hopes have not ended yet. Add to that a potential trade for Brad Marchand, and it’s certain that the Bruins will have to take some hard calls sooner or later.

Will Brad Marchand leave?

 Marchand has reached the final year of his eight-year $49,000,000 contract with the Bruins. And given his advanced age, it may not be the wisest financial decision for the Bruins to give him another long-term contract. However, Marchand won’t have any shortage of suitors.

Yeah, that’s right. Potential destinations for the Nova Scotia native include the Tampa Bay Lightning, the New Jersey Devils, the Edmonton Oilers, the Los Angeles Kings, and the Vegas Golden Knights. And honestly? One of those moves could actually go down if the Bruins decide to focus more on building for the future instead of banking on the vet to help them to the playoffs this year.

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Marchand fell awkward. Ask him

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But Marchand has no intention of walking out anytime soon. “I’ve always planned on playing here my entire career. That hasn’t changed,” said the veteran last month. “They’re aware of that. I think everyone is aware of that. It’s a gift to play for this team. I take tremendous pride in it. So yeah, that’s the goal,” he added. And when GM Don Sweeny was asked about his thoughts on the comment during a February 23 presser, he said that keeping Marchand in the Bruins camp throughout his career has always been his “ultimate goal.” He and Marchand’s agent Wade Arnott, however, are yet to agree on things. 

Whatever happens, Marchand will have to make sure that he hits the ice as soon as possible because no matter which team he ends up playing for, he wouldn’t want to miss too much of the action now that the NHL is moving into its final few games of the regular season.