Boston Bruins: Brad Marchand Will Face Frank Vatrano At World Championship Semi-Finals
Boston Bruins: Brad Marchand Will Face Frank Vatrano At World Championship Semi-Finals As Canada And The US Are Set To Play Against Each Other
While the Boston Bruins season may be over, the franchise is still being represented at the IIHF World Ice Hockey Championships. Brad Marchand, David Pastrnak, and Frank Vatrano were all invited to the tournament to play for their home countries — Canada, The Czech Republic, and The United States respectively.
On Thursday, Frank Vatrano and the US squad narrowly edged David Pastrnak and the Czech Republic by a score of 2-1 in a shootout. That win earned the United States a spot in the Semi-Finals against the winner of the the game between Canada and Sweden. Brad Marchand‘s home country made short work of the Swedish club, winning the game 6-0 and punching their ticket to the Semi-Finals against the United States.
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Both Brad Marchand and Frank Vatrano have made names for themselves throughout their hockey careers as smaller guys who simply wouldn’t take “no” for an answer. While Frank Vatrano is just starting to carve his way into the NHL, Brad Marchand has shown that he is among the league’s-best despite his size.
In 77 games this season, Brad Marchand scored 37 goals and 60 points along with 90 penalty minutes and a plus-21 rating. Frank Vatrano on the otherhand, made a name for himself at the AHL level this season by scoring 36 goals in 36 games. Both players have played well at the tournament thus far, and the players that they are skating with will certainly help them in the long-run.
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Frank Vatrano currently has one goal and five assists for six points in eight games. His most recent point came as an assist to the projected first overall draft pick in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft, Auston Matthews. Playing alongside the 18-year-old Matthews is a very good opportunity for Frank Vatrano, who will be looking to take on a bigger role with the Boston Bruins next season.
Brad Marchand has scored three goals and two assists in eight games at the tournament, including one goal in Thursday’s win over Sweden, as well as a short-handed goal over the United States back on May 6th. His linemates are nothing to scoff at either, as he’s been playing alongside the top-centerman for the Colorado Avalanche in Matt Duchene as well as the 2015 first overall draft pick, Connor McDavid.
As mentioned, Marchand and the Canadians took on Vatrano and the Americans on May 6th in the round-robin round of the tournament. Canada routed the United States by a score of 5-1, and then went on an undefeated streak until they played against the Finnish club where they were taught to not rest on their laurels.
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The United States will have a tough match-up against the Canadians, but for Bruins’ fans, it will be an opportunity to watch some of their players perform at the international level while representing their country.