Canadiens issue strong message to Florida Panthers Brad Marchand ahead of rematch

What lit the fuse was Tuesday in Florida, when Marchand caught Mike Matheson up high along the boards in overtime. He took a roughing minor, and Montreal won 3-2 on the power play when Nick Suzuki buried it.

The next day, the league made its call, no hearing, no fine, no suspension. That decision is what really set people off, because fans read it as another star getting the benefit of the doubt.

Matheson then sat out Montreal's next game, and even without a confirmed long-term issue, that absence poured gasoline on the anger. When a key defenseman takes a high hit, everyone assumes there is a cost.

Thursday is the rematch in Montreal, and this is where Marchand's history matters. Bruins versus Canadiens was never polite, and even in new colors, he still triggers that same old instinct.

I can already hear the boos, because Montreal never forgets a grudge.

This is the hard part for Florida, because the team needs points and calm, not a circus. The Panthers have been fighting injuries and trying to find consistent five-on-five shifts, and emotional games can pull you off your details fast.

Marchand is also not a kid anymore, he's 37, and he has earned real respect with his production. He's sitting at 23 goals and 45 points in 38 games, and that is not a passenger stat line.

Still, the baggage follows him, and it is not imaginary. He has been suspended eight times in his career, even if he has not been suspended since 2022, and Montreal fans know that file by heart.

The Panthers need his edge, but they need it aimed in the right direction. If he channels it into puck retrievals, drawn penalties, and clean zone entries, Florida can turn the noise into momentum.

If it turns into extra shoves, late whistles, and trading hits instead of trading chances, the Canadiens will happily drag Florida into the kind of game that feels good, right until it costs you a point.

This is why Thursday matters, not because anyone wants revenge theatre, but because it will show if Florida can stay disciplined under real pressure. A Panthers win in that building would feel like a huge statement vs a division rival, and this team could use one.

Will Brad Marchand step up and face the heat?