The Boston Bruins faced a tough blowout loss to the Florida Panthers on Friday night at TD Garden, and to make matters worse, they were without their captain for the entire third period. According to Bruins head coach Jim Montgomery, the captain is dealing with an upper-body injury and is considered day-to-day.

The injury occurred during the game after the Bruins' captain, Brad Marchand, took a hit from Panthers forward Sam Bennett. There appears to be some controversy surrounding the hit, as Bennett seemingly connected with a rabbit punch above Marchand's shoulders. Despite the potential severity of the hit, no penalty was called on Bennett, leaving Bruins fans and staff frustrated.

Panthers head coach Paul Maurice downplayed the incident on Saturday, stating that he does not believe there was a punch involved. He characterized it as a collision, emphasizing that no one wants to see players get hurt. "In a perfect world, every team has everybody healthy. Nobody likes to see anybody hurt," Maurice expressed, as reported by Michael Russo of The Athletic.

The absence of the Bruins' captain undoubtedly had an impact on the team's performance in the third period. With their leader sidelined, the Bruins faced even more adversity in an already difficult game. Montgomery's mention that the captain is considered day-to-day means that his return to the ice remains uncertain, leaving fans anxious about the team's upcoming matches.

The NHL may review the play and potential missed penalty, as the hit on Marchand left many questioning whether an interference call should have been made. Any ruling regarding this matter would likely be met with great interest, as it could impact future calls and player safety discussions within the league.

As the Bruins continue their season, they will need to deal with the absence of their captain and find ways to fill the leadership void on the ice. Both the team and their fans will be eagerly awaiting updates on Marchand's status as they hope for a swift recovery.

In the meantime, the focus remains on the lessons learned from Friday's loss and the determination to bounce back stronger in their next game, regardless of who is in the lineup.