The Boston Bruins’ injury situation could open the door for Brad Marchand to make his NHL playoff debut.
The Hammonds Plains native and former Halifax Mooseheads forward is in the mix with minor-league veteran Trent Whitfield to step into the Bruins’ lineup on Friday night against the Philadelphia Flyers.
A spot opened Wednesday when high-scoring centre David Krejci was lost for the rest of the playoffs with a broken wrist.
Marchand, 21, has been a Black Ace during the playoffs, the label given to players who practise but do not play. He appeared in 20 games with the Bruins this season, recording one assist, and produced 32 points in 34 games with the American Hockey League’s Providence Bruins.
“We’ve got a lot of guys that have been around our team now for a while,” Bruins head coach Claude Julien told reporters.
“I think I’m going to keep my decision probably for (Friday). I’ve still got a whole day to sort things out here and we’ve got a lot of guys capable of jumping in and doing the job. It’s a matter of picking and choosing who we want.”
Whitfield, 32, appeared in 16 games with the Bruins and had 43 points in 52 games with Providence. Whitfield has 14 games of NHL playoff experience and is a natural centre. Marchand plays left and right wings.
Andrew Bodnarchuk, another Hammonds Plains native and former Mooseheads star, is a candidate to step into the Bruins’ lineup for defenceman Adam McQuaid, who is doubtful with a leg injury.
Bodnarchuk, Andy Wozniewski and Jeff Penner are candidates to step in.
The Bruins have a comfortable 3-0 lead in the Eastern Conference best-of-seven quarter-final.
