TORONTO — Brad Marchand has two goals and four assists in Round 1. Marchand’s output includes the deciding strike and an empty-netter in the Boston Bruins’ 4-2 Game 3 win on Wednesday over the Toronto Maple Leafs.
But the statistic that has caught Sheldon Keefe’s eye the most is zero. As in no penalty minutes through three games.
Given Marchand’s reputation and insistence on being in the battle, Keefe believes that number is incomprehensible.
“World-class player, both in ability and how he plays — the gamesmanship and everything,” the Leafs coach said. “It’s world-class. He’s been in the league long enough. As you can see, he gets calls. It’s unbelievable, actually, how it goes. You’ve got to play through that. You’ve got to play through that stuff. I don’t think there’s another player in this series that gets away with taking out (Tyler) Bertuzzi’s legs the way he does. There’s not another player in this series that gets away with that. But he does. It’s an art. He’s elite at it.”
In the second period, just about everybody in Scotiabank Arena was watching how Marchand and Bertuzzi, former teammates and friends, jousted and jabbed and slashed their way up and down the ice. Ilya Samsonov might have been among them. Otherwise, there is no explanation as to how the Toronto goalie muffed a Trent Frederic shot from outside the left-side dot, making it a 1-1 game.
Trent ties it up. pic.twitter.com/1Z2U72iDkj
— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) April 25, 2024
Marchand has made a career out of getting people’s attention.
“He wants to get under our skin and influence the refs,” Matthew Knies told reporters. “So I think we’ve just got to be composed and not kind of get into that bull—-. Just play hard and make him (less) effective.”
It will not serve the Leafs well to keep Marchand’s emotions firing. He thrives on conflict. It makes him a better player and leader. Marchand loves it when the temperature spikes.
“The games for him when he plays the best is when there’s a cluster going on around him during the game,” said Jake DeBrusk. “Sometimes even before or after. When he gets into his ‘little ball of hate’ mode, usually good things happen for the team.”
In Marchand’s opinion, his second-period tangle with Bertuzzi was the only time he might have approached a disciplinary line. Otherwise, the captain has tried to keep his nose clean. By now, he knows he cannot afford to lose his cool.
“Bert and I get tied up one shift,” said Marchand. “But outside of that, I’m not really in the mix with anything. I’m just trying to play, and play a good team game. At this time of the year, it gets so emotional. I’m an emotional player.”
Marchand’s juices started pumping early. At the Bruins’ morning skate, coach Jim Montgomery noticed how Marchand was barking before the team’s first drill.
“Just excited,” Marchand said of his morning arrival. “It’s not a given that you get the opportunity in the Stanley Cup playoffs. Just kind of woke up with the gratitude and understanding that it’s a gift to play in this league.”
Marchand’s showdown with Bertuzzi, and Frederic’s goal, elevated the Bruins. He saved his best for last.
Early in the third, while Bertuzzi was in the box for roughing, Marchand did the dirty work to produce the go-ahead goal. Marchand pulled the puck off the right-side wall and walked it toward the net. Samsonov got his glove on Marchand’s shot. But DeBrusk was there to put in the rebound and give the Bruins a 2-1 lead.
Bertuzzi tied the game midway through the third when he deflected Morgan Rielly’s slap pass past Jeremy Swayman. But 28 seconds later, Marchand punched back.
With the home crowd roaring after Bertuzzi’s goal, Frederic and Danton Heinen went to work down low on the forecheck. Heinen came out with the puck. Marchand floated to the right faceoff dot. When Heinen emerged from the battle and looked up, Marchand was open in front. The captain rifled a riser over Samsonov’s glove to give the Bruins a 3-2 lead.
MARCHAND. CORNER POCKET.
🎥 @NHL | #NHLPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/qOYotIRzP9
— The Athletic NHL (@TheAthleticNHL) April 25, 2024
“Every way possible,” Charlie Coyle said of how Marchand set the Game 3 tone. “His play? Yeah, that’s one, him chipping in scoring-wise. But battling, just not backing down. His leadership on the bench, too. The way he talks and the way he keeps us engaged in what we need to do in that given situation whenever it calls for, he’s always on top of that. So it goes beyond his play on the ice, which was exceptional tonight.”
Marchand ended the night with an empty-net goal. It gave him 56 career playoff goals, putting him past Cam Neely for the franchise lead.
“Hopefully, there’s plenty more in the tank,” said Marchand. “But to be in the company with a guy like that, who’s one of the most gifted goal-scorers in the history of our franchise and the game, is pretty special.”
Keefe’s critique, cloaked in praise, could convince Game 4’s officials to keep close watch on Marchand. The captain will not mind. He enjoys being in the middle of it.
“There’s a burning intensity in him to win,” Montgomery said. “He doesn’t care about what just happened. Good or bad. He’s on to what’s next.”
(Photo of Brad Marchand: Michael Chisholm / NHLI via Getty Images)
