3 days ago
Brad Marchand never expected to be in Stanley Cup Final in Panthers jersey
Brad Marchand is back in the Stanley Cup Final for the first time since 2019. But this time, it's as a member of the Florida Panthers.
'I definitely didn't expect to be here in this jersey,' Marchand, who had an assist in the win, told TNT's Jackie Redmond after Florida's Game 5 win over the Carolina Hurricanes. 'But I'm very happy I am.'
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Marchand was traded to the Panthers in March after spending his entire 16-year career with the Bruins. He won one Stanley Cup while with Boston in 2011, and played in two others (2013, 2019). The veteran forward knows the opportunity to play on the NHL's biggest stage doesn't come often.
'It's special. When you've been around for a while, you realize how few opportunities you have to be part of something like this,' Marchand said. 'Just enjoying every moment. Grateful for the opportunity."
The Panthers clinched their third straight berth to the Cup Final with their win over Carolina on Wednesday night at Lenovo Center. They erased a two-goal deficit early on and shifted the momentum.
'When you've been through it before and have gone all the way, you see the different way momentum swings can happen throughout a game and how you can take advantage of that,' Marchand told reporters.
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Marchand and the rest of the Panthers now await the outcome of the Edmonton Oilers-Dallas Stars series, and knows their job isn't done.
'We haven't accomplished anything yet,' Marchand said. 'The toughest team we're gonna face is coming up next. If you don't do the job there, you didn't win anything. We're excited, but it's just like any other round. There's a huge job to do moving forward and we have to prepare for that now.'
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Read the original article on MassLive.
