Brad Marchand Returns Early After Rude Awakening

Coach Paul Maurice planned for Brad Marchand to miss the entire month of October following his August surgery due to a lingering lower-body injury, but circumstances changed quickly. The veteran forward returned less than two months post-op and three weeks ahead of schedule in Florida's first game since captain Aleksander Barkov was placed on long-term injured reserve. In that match against the Anaheim Ducks, Marchand skated for 13 minutes and 10 seconds before scoring a game-tying goal with one minute fifty seconds remaining to lead an eventual overtime loss.