Recchi/By S. Bradley

VANCOUVER — When asked if Mark Recchi would have his alternate captain’s ‘A’ back on his sweater tonight for Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final, Bruins head coach Claude Julien had no idea what I was talking about.

Many astute observers of the Bruins’ Game 4 victory noticed that Recchi was missing the letter. Speculation ran rampant that maybe he had to relinquish it because of his finger-pointing gestures — not exactly the best way to set an example — in Game 3.

But Julien said that no such thing occurred.

Now the truth can come out. A Bruins team official has confirmed that the Hockey Hall of Fame requested Recchi wear the jersey he skated with in Game 4. That sweater lacked an ‘A.’

Consider the mystery solved.