It wasn’t always easy, but Brad Marchand made it through an emotional visit to the Boston Bruins. Emotions were running high all night as the Florida Panthers escaped TD Garden with a tight 4-3 victory in the NHL. The home crowd was left heartbroken—not so much because of the last-minute defeat, but because they watched their cult hero skate off the ice and into the away locker room.

Fans in Boston were seemingly in denial. Watching Marchand hoist his second Stanley Cup with the Panthers was hard on its own. But welcoming the former third-round pick in 2006 return to TD Garden wearing a jersey other than the Spoked B, it was all too much.

For many, it still doesn’t feel right. However, watching ‘Marchy’ thrive and look the best he’s done in years—even if it’s with the Cats—puts a smile o

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