Bruins Marchand Gets Response From Habs Plekanec

May 14, 2014; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Bruins left wing Brad Marchand (63) is defended by Montreal Canadiens defenseman Alexei Emelin (74) during the first period in game seven of the second round of the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs at TD Banknorth Garden. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports

Although it has been nearly three months since the Montreal Canadiens eliminated the Boston Bruins, the sour taste left in Brad Marchand’s mouth is still fresh. After expressing his disdain for Canadiens’ center Tomas Plekanec at a recent Q & A session in his native Nova Scotia, Marchand was quoted saying in response to a question inquiring about players who irritate him that Plekanec was at the top of the list and that “he can’t stand him”.

Well it didn’t take long for Plekanec didn’t take long to respond to Marchand’s comments. Currently spending his time during the offseason at his home in the Czech Republic, Plekanec claimed he enjoyed the comment from Marchand, saying that “it comes from a person that actually almost everybody in the NHL hates.”

Whether it’s been with his mouth or his questionable play on the ice, Marchand is often at the top of his opponents’ list when it comes to drawing their angst and frustration. While Marchand’s antics tend to be more egregious and apparent in nature, Plekanec has been under fire for incidents of embellishment during the 2014 Eastern Conference finals against the New York Rangers.

I’m not condoning the actions of either player, however while Marchand looks for trouble and often times uses dirty tactics to draw a reaction from other players; the actions of Plekanec are reflective of someone resorting to underhanded and sneaky actions to draw a penalty.

Rivalries breed contempt and both franchises are in the current position of fielding competitive teams capable of winning a Stanley Cup. At this point, every comment and every action is going to be put under the microscope when it comes to these two teams. The flames from May are still burning as hot as ever and thankfully we will not have to wait long for these two teams to faceoff in the regular season.

October 16th cannot come soon enough.

The flames between these two rivals seems incapable of cooling off after their heated series in the Eastern Conference semifinals back in May.