In a season where depth is the Panthers’ not-so-secret weapon, some players have found themselves bouncing around the lineup. Some due to injuries, others to give the team a little spark. Mason Marchment experienced both of these this season. Starting the season as a healthy scratch in the team’s first two games, Marchment didn’t play until the team’s third game of the season. Over his first ten games, he recorded a goal and six assists. But in that tenth game, it all came crashing down. Literally.
High Center of Gravity?
If there was a stat that tracked the number of times a player ended up flat on the ice, Mason Marchment might end up holding the all-time record. This isn’t to say that he’s in any way a lousy skater, just that he might have a higher center of gravity than most. (No, I don’t have stats to back that up, just go with it!) He is a fast skater and plays a very rough and tumble game. But it works. Well, it worked until that tenth game on November 8th, 2021, in Madison Square Garden against the New York Rangers. Marchment wound up for a hard check on Nils Lundkvist and ended up crashing awkwardly into the boards.
He was placed on long-term injured reserve with an Upper Body Injury and missed the team’s next 17 games.
The Return?
After spending over a month on the sidelines, Mason Marchment finally retook the ice on December 29th, 2021, against the same New York Rangers team. That didn’t bother him. He picked up right where he left off, getting a point in each of his first three games post-injury.
Unfortunately, Marchment was placed on the NHL’s Covid Protocols list following those three games. He missed the team’s next six games.
The Return 2, Marchment Boogaloo
Back with his buddy Anton Lundell, Marchment continued his streak of getting a point in his first game back. And then he was moved to the fourth line with Ryan Lomberg and Eetu Luostarinen following an injury to Patric Hörnqvist. He played three games with that line and didn’t score a point. Then, in his first game with his original line mates Anton Lundell and Sam Reinhart, he exploded for two goals and an assist in the first period against the Winnipeg Jets. He scored two more goals in the two following games and recorded another assist, showing off his hustle to steal the puck and score an empty-net goal against the Vegas Golden Knights. The celebration of that goal was turned into an artistic masterpiece by the King of Panthers Twitter, Jameson Olive. (With a bit of help from photoshop!)
Hang it in the Louvre! ??️ pic.twitter.com/EA6haD5vAx
— Jameson Olive (@JamesonCoop) January 28, 2022
If these last games are any indication, the Panthers are getting exactly what they want out of Mason as they “march” towards the playoffs.
