Brad Marchand suffered another injury scare, and the Florida Panthers now fear it could hit his Team Canada Olympics hopes.

Marchand had only recently returned to Florida’s lineup, which is what makes this feel so cruel. One step forward, two steps back.

Thursday night in St. Louis turned into a gut check. Marchand didn’t play the third period at all.

Head coach Paul Maurice had no update postgame. He said Marchand would be evaluated “tonight and tomorrow.”

The game itself was chaos, ending in a 5-4 Blues win on a power-play goal with nine seconds left.

Marchand finished the night with a minus-1 in just 11:19 of ice time, which is unusual for him.

This is where the concern gets louder. He already missed several weeks earlier this month with an undisclosed injury.

Florida has leaned on him hard when the lineup has been banged up. When Marchand is not out there, their identity looks different.

Brad Marchand Team Canada hopes in jeopardy

Bruins fans still feel protective of Marchand, and seeing him limping through another mystery injury is honestly brutal.

Marchand has been productive this season, sitting at 25-25-50, so this is not some depth piece you quietly replace.

Even if it’s only “a few games,” that matters with the Olympics right around the corner and roster decisions getting real.

NHL players are back at the Winter Olympics for the first time since 2014, and Milano Cortina is a rare shot for veterans who have waited years.

That’s the nightmare angle here. If Marchand’s latest injury lingers, it could steal what might be his last true Olympic window.

Florida also has its own urgency. The Panthers are already juggling health and rhythm, and another absence forces Paul Maurice to reshuffle the top six again.