Brad Marchand spent 15 and a half seasons with the Boston Bruins, playing in over 1,100 games before donning a Florida Panthers jersey for the first time on Friday night. He assisted on Sam Bennett’s overtime goal, securing a 2–1 win over the Utah Hockey Club. After the game, Marchand acknowledged how unusual it felt to receive support from Panthers fans, who had long viewed him as a rival. “It was strange stepping onto the ice,” he admitted. “That was the moment it really sank in. Hearing cheers from Panthers fans was definitely different. But it felt great.”
The 36-year-old winger, who joined Florida three weeks ago, had been sidelined with an upper-body injury. He made an immediate impact in his debut, setting up Bennett’s game-winner with a pass from behind the net. “(Marchand) hasn’t played in a month, yet he came in and took control of the game,” Bennett said. “That’s not easy, especially on a new team.” Coach Paul Maurice and goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky were also impressed.
Maurice praised Marchand’s ability to make difficult plays in tight spaces, while Bobrovsky highlighted his winning mentality.
With the win, Florida (44-25-3) moved to the top of the Atlantic Division with 91 points, one ahead of the Toronto Maple Leafs (43-25-4). The Panthers will face the Montreal Canadiens on Sunday, with 10 games left in the regular season.
