{"id":485552,"date":"2026-10-05T07:58:09","date_gmt":"2026-10-05T07:58:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/485552\/"},"modified":"2026-10-05T07:58:09","modified_gmt":"2026-10-05T07:58:09","slug":"marchand-out-since-march-6-scores-in-return-to-panthers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/485552\/","title":{"rendered":"Marchand, out since March 6, scores in return to Panthers"},"content":{"rendered":"


Florida Panthers<\/a> forward Brad Marchand<\/a>, out since March 6, made his season debut Sunday night in his team’s 3-2 overtime loss<\/a> to the Anaheim Ducks<\/a>, scoring his first goal since Feb. 26.<\/p>\n

Marchand, the 38-year-old veteran who had 27 goals and 54 points in his first full season with the Panthers last year, underwent offseason surgery and was originally expected to miss the first month.<\/p>\n

But coach Paul Maurice confirmed Marchand’s return before his team took the ice in Anaheim, and the left wing took his slot on the third line, playing alongside Brady Tkachuk<\/a> and Sam Reinhart<\/a>. He skated in 18 shifts in the loss, covering 13:10 of ice time. He finished with three shots on net, and his third-period goal helped Florida force overtime and secure a regulation point.<\/p>\n

“It was a bit of a rude awakening,” Marchand said about his return to live game action. “I’ve only had a couple of morning skates with the guys, and one practice yesterday. So, the speed of the game and the intensity definitely ramped up a ton.”<\/p>\n

Marchand revealed in mid-August that he had a procedure, the details of which were not released. He was dogged by a lower-body issue for much of last season, when Florida’s hopes of contending for what would have been a third consecutive Stanley Cup were derailed by injuries throughout the lineup.<\/p>\n

“He’s going to take the month of October for rehab,” Panthers coach Paul Maurice said after the team’s first day of training camp last month. “That may mean he’s ready to play right at the end of it. That may mean he needs a short period of time, assuming no setbacks. But we’re planning on rehabbing for October.”<\/p>\n

Marchand missed a career-high 30 games last season. He was effective before getting shut down in early March, around the time it became clear that Florida wouldn’t qualify for the playoffs.<\/p>\n

Marchand was on the ice during the team’s training camp last month in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, but he was not an active participant in team drills.<\/p>\n

“Obviously, it progressed faster than expected,” Marchand said of his recovery. “We have incredible trainers, and guys behind the scenes that did a tremendous amount of work to help get me back.”<\/p>\n

Sunday’s decision comes a day after Florida announced it placed center Aleksander Barkov<\/a> on long-term injured reserve, meaning the injury to his left leg will keep him sidelined for at least the next 10 games and quite possibly beyond. The Panthers did not reveal any details of Barkov’s injury.<\/p>\n

“There’s obviously been some ups and downs already so far,” Marchand said of his team’s first week. “But it’s what is expected in this league, that little bit of adversity that we have to go through. But we will, and it’ll make us stronger.”<\/p>\n

Sources told ESPN’s Emily Kaplan that the Panthers are optimistic that Barkov’s injury is not season-ending. Barkov will continue to be evaluated after he underwent an MRI this weekend that did not reveal the worst-case scenario, sources said.<\/p>\n

The Associated Press contributed to this report.br\/]<\/p>\n

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