SUNRISE, Fla. — Brad Marchand looked especially short as he tried to buck up his Bruins teammates as they headed for the ice.
With him in shoes and them on skates, his already small stature stood out that much more when they traded shoulder bumps to psyche each other up before the game. But only his height was small. The Bruins captain’s leadership and personality remained outsized.
Marchad wasn’t cleared to play in Game 5 against the Florida Panthers, but he tried to still be a leader though he wasn’t on the ice. He gave a pregame speech and was in the locker room between periods. Charlie McAvoy said extending the series so Marchand could return added additional motivation to win.
“Having him around is awesome in any capacity. His presence means a lot for us,” McAvoy said. “Everything he carries and everything he means to the team. He was in there during the game constantly giving us love …