Midway through Thursday, the Bruins were unsure if they would have Brad Marchand in the lineup for their contest against the Pittsburgh Penguins at TD Garden later that evening.

Marchand and the Bruins were awaiting a decision from the league’s Department of Player Safety after his phone hearing with the league, stemming from Boston’s win over the Red Wings on Tuesday night.

In the first period of what would eventually be a 4-3 overtime victory for the Black and Gold, Marchand “dangerously” tripped Red Wings defenseman Nicholas Kronwall, propelling the league into action. The All-Star game bound Marchand was lucky enough to avoid suspension and instead was handed a $10,000 fine, the maximum amount allowed by the CBA.

After a day of uncertainty, head coach Claude Julien is glad Marchand was in his usual first line left wing spot alongside Patrice Bergeron and David Pastrnak.

“I think he needed to respond, that way. I think it was important for him to respond that way. You know, I’m going to be honest with you, you know we’re lucky we did not lose him tonight,” Julien said during his postgame press conference on Thursday night.

“Obviously he played a big part in that win. I respect the league, I respect their decisions sometimes and he’s been in some trouble before and I am sure that wasn’t an easy decision. I’m going to stand here and say we’re lucky we had him tonight.”

For the second consecutive game, Marchand sparked the Bruins with two goals, en route to two much-needed points. After a season-high four-game losing streak, the Bruins are entering the All-Star break with back-to-back wins in their pocket and are hoping that momentum is on their side.

Less than a week after a 5-1 loss to the very same Penguins, the Bruins found themselves down 2-0 after a sloppy first period Thursday night. That’s when Marchand decided to once again take matters into his own hands.

Marchand’s shorthanded tally 1:38 into the middle stanza, followed by his team-leading 21st goal of the season kick started a three-goal second period for the Bruins and turned the tables on the Evgeni Malkin-less Penguins. Along with the goals, the Bruins also brought the physicality to the Penguins, something that was much talked about in their dressing room following the win.

“I think that’s when we are at our best, when we are playing with emotion. I think we are starting to realize that and the guys did a really good job at showing the character in the second period and stepping up,” Marchand said. “[David] Backes was all over them, Millsy [Colin Miller] had a phenomenal fight and you know guys as a whole were as a team being physical and being tight.”

Joining goalie Tuukka Rask, Marchand will jet off to sunny Los Angeles to represent the Atlantic Division in the 2017 All-Star game. The first-time All Star nomination is well deserved for Marchand, who has been the Bruins most consistent offensive threat this season.

Marchand has now scored more than 20 goals in six of his seven full NHL seasons, including his last four. The 28 year-old had a career and team-high 37 goals last season. With his shorthanded goal, Marchand is now tied with Rick Nash and Antonie Vermette for second in shorthanded goals among active players.

Much like Julien, Backes and the rest of the Bruins were glad to see Marchand in the lineup Thursday night.

“He skated like he was ten thousand dollars lighter today,” Backes added with a smile.

“He was flying around, you know doing what he does best, creating offense and holding onto the puck; I thought he was really focused on playing the game, playing the game the right way and playing it hard. I’ve told him that before that if I’m playing against him I want him jabbing and poking me and thinking about how he’s going to get me back instead of thinking about he’s going to put the puck into the net.”