Brad Marchand Returns to the Florida Panthers on Saturday

Brad Marchand has missed the past seven games for the Florida Panthers, but he is back Saturday night against the Minnesota Wild.

Paul Maurice told reporters after Saturday’s morning skate in St. Paul that Marchand needs to get through the day.

Apparently he did just that.

Per Rob Darragh of FloridaPanthers.com, Marchand did not take part in line rushes on Saturday.

But Marchand was on the ice for warmups before Saturday’s game after being activated off IR skating on a line with Anton Lundell and Eetu Luostarinen.

Florida is scratching forwards Cole Schwindt and Jesper Boqvist.

“He’s feeling really strong. We just want to make sure we make a real smart decision,” Maurice said after morning skate.

Florida will fly to Chicago following tonight’s game to play the Blackhawks on Sunday.

“That is part of the consideration,’’ Maurice said.

Marchand, who has scored 46 points off 23 goals this season, has been out since the third period of Florida’s 4-1 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Jan. 6.

Maurice said Marchand was pulled by what Maurice said was a precaution, but he has not played since — and was briefly wearing a no-contact jersey in workouts.

Update: Things worked out quite well for Marchand and the Panthers.

Marchand not only scored to give the Panthers a 2-1 lead late in the first, but he assisted on the game-tying goal in the third and won it in overtime with his second goal of the night.

Not too shabby.

ON DECK: GAME No. 50

FLORIDA PANTHERS AT MINNESOTA WILD 

• When: Saturday, 8 p.m.
• Where: Grand Casino Arena; St. Paul, Minn.
• Local TV: Scripps Sports — WSFL 39 (Miami/FTL); WHDT 9 (WPB); LAFF 36.3 (Naples/FTM)
• Streaming: Panthers+, ESPN+
• Radio: WQAM; WBZT 1230-AM (Palm Beach); WCTH 100.3-FM (Florida Keys); SiriusXM
• Panthers Radio Streaming: SiriusXM 932, NHL App
• Last Season: Tied 1-1
• This Season — At Minnesota: Saturday. At Florida: March 26.
• All-time Regular Season Series: Minnesota leads 21-11-2, 1 tie
• Up Next for the Panthers: Sunday at Chicago Blackhawks, 8 p.m.