Florida Panthers forward Brad Marchand had to be helped off the ice during his team’s game with the Los Angeles Kings on Tuesday with an apparent lower-body injury.
The incident occurred late in the second period when Marchand collided with Kings defenceman Brandt Clarke while driving to the Kings’ net and Clarke’s stick came into contact with Marchand’s face. Marchand also collided with teammate Brady Tkachuk and crashed into the boards.
Marchand was on the ice grabbing his left knee and needed assistance from teammates to get to the bench.
Clarke was given a four-minute double minor for high sticking Marchand on the play.
The 38-year-old Marchand was playing in only his second game of the season after he returned to action on Sunday. Marchand missed the entire pre-season and the first two regular season games while recovering from off-season surgery to repair a sports hernia.
Marchand recorded a goal in his return on Sunday during the Panthers’ 3-2 overtime loss to the Anaheim Ducks and registered 27 goals and 54 points in 52 games last season, which was mired by injuries.
Drafted 71st overall by the Boston Bruins in 2006, Marchand has 452 goals and 1,035 points in 1,153 career games split between the Bruins and Panthers.
Florida is 1-0-2 entering Tuesday’s action to begin the 2026-27 campaign and is looking to return to the playoffs after winning back-to-back Stanley Cup titles in 2024 and 2025.
