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Luck of the Brad Marchand

March 17, 2019, 6:23 PM ET [9 Comments]
Anthony Travalgia
Boston Bruins Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
On a night where the Bruins celebrated St. Patrick’s Day weekend, Brad Marchand and the Bruins needed some Irish luck in order to snap a three-game losing streak.

With MMA star Conor McGregor in the building for the ceremonial puck drop, Marchand wanted to give McGregor and the sold out crowd at TD Garden something to dance about.

His 15th career overtime goal in a 2-1 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets did just that. But it was Marchand’s celebration that will be the dance most talked about.




“I was hoping to score just to do it, I knew that before the game,” said Marchand. “It’s not every day you have an icon like that in the room with that presence. I was just having a little fun with it.”

McGregor brought energy to both the Bruins locker room with a fiery pre-game pep talk, and the festive Bruins crowd, most wearing green on one of Boston’s favorite weekends.

“Yeah, he did a nice job for us, came in the room before. He’s fired up, that guy. He’s still fired up. I’m glad we won. He would’ve come in and probably, you know, had his way with us,” head coach Bruce Cassidy said with a smile. “He had a nice few words for the guys before the game, a little different. You’re not used to that.”

McGregor certainly enjoyed his first National Hockey League game, having the opportunity to witness Marchand’s 31st goal of the season up close from the Zamboni entrance.

When Marchand one-timed a dime of a pass from Patrice Bergeron for the game-winner, McGregor looked very much like the 17,565 in attendance, jumping and screaming in excitement.

“Definitely is something that’s pretty impressive of someone of his caliber and what he has accomplished could easily sneak out and go home and do other things,” said Zdeno Chara. “So that’s something to come to our locker room before the game and give us a speech, puck drop, but waiting and cheering us on and really pay attention to the hockey game.”

After a run of sloppy play during their three-game losing streak, the Bruins looked more like the team they were during their 19-game point streak. With puck management and sloppiness in the defensive zone being their biggest issues of late, the Bruins cleaned up both arenas Saturday night.

“I think that’s the difference tonight. We addressed that going in to Winnipeg. The score didn’t show it in Winnipeg, four goals against. I thought our team d-zone coverage was much better,” added Cassidy. “Rush coverage was a problem, so we talked about that a little more.”

Despite how well the team played in front of him, Jaroslav Halak was forced to come up with some tough saves, making 24 in total as the Bruins picked up their 11th straight win on home ice.

“Yeah, he was banging on, like I said. When you’re in their end for most of the first period, and they get one chance and score, you’re frustrated with your goaltending, right?” added Cassidy. “But as the game went on, clearly, he was solid, made the saves he needed to.”

Bergeron opened the scoring 5:51 into the first period with his 27th goal of the season, a power play strike. Newly acquired Matt Duchene’s beauty of a snipe tied things late in the period. The two first period goals were regulation’s lone tallies.

Bergeron’s goal was the 800th point of his historic career.

After missing five-games with a foot injury, Jake DeBrusk returned to the lineup Saturday, finishing with three shots on goal in 21:59 of ice time.

David Pastrnak practiced with the team Saturday morning and is expected to do so again Monday morning when the Bruins hit the ice next. There’s a chance Pastrnak could return for Tuesday’s contest in New York against the Islanders.

Torey Krug is currently battling a concussion and is in the league’s concussion protocol. Kevan Miller is doing better according to Cassidy, but has yet to hit the ice. Cassidy also expects to have Marcus Johansson and Matt Grzelcyk back on the ice in some capacity this coming week, and the pair will be evaluated from there.
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