Apr 10, 2014; Winnipeg, Manitoba, CAN; Boston Bruins forward Brad Marchand (63) reacts prior to the game against the Winnipeg Jets at MTS Centre. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Fedyck-USA TODAY Sports
There were some very solid positives in last night’s Black and Gold scrimmage in Providence. Even though Team White were trounced by their Team Black counterparts 6-1, there were things being done on the ice that should make the Bruins organization happy. Bruins forward Brad Marchand was all over the ice with a speed and tenacity that was sorely missed in last year’s playoff run. He attacked the puck, he made solid plays, he was able to make moves that kept Team Black off balance, and even went on a chirping spree of his one-time linemate Loui Eriksson.
The twenty-six year old winger talked with the media after the game and felt a little relieved that he had had such a decent go of it in last night’s scrimmage.
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“I feel better, I feel stronger and I feel more quick,” offered the Little Ball of Hate. “I feel like I can control the puck a little more, and not get knocked off the puck as easily I was last year. I definitely feel more confident than I did last year. It’s a big relief. You work hard all summer to try and feel that way. Coming in I didn’t really know how I was going to match up with other guys.”
“I’m back to moving the way I was before, and holding the puck the way I could before. It’s a good feeling, for sure.” – Brad Marchand
Marchand certainly impressed his linemate for the last few years. Bruins alternate captain Patrice Bergeron (who moved pretty well in his own right) was definitely upbeat about the performance of the guy who has be on his wing for the four seasons. “He’s looking great, and he’s definitely making some good plays,” said Bergeron. “He definitely looks quick on his feet, and creating a lot of chances with it. We have good chemistry together, so we just have to keep working on it.” That chemistry helped line up several solid attempts in last night’s game. Regrettably, the goaltending duo of Malcolm Subban and Niklas Svedberg shut them down on every attempt.
“It’s great to see that he wants to get better, and wants be an elite player in this league. That’s the attitude you want in a teammate, and in a professional. It’s by working hard, and doing the little things. He scored 25 goals last year, but he wants more and that’s great to see.” Patrice Bergeron on Brad Marchand
Puck Prose
Marchand’s performance just didn’t please himself, his teammate, and the fans. Bruins general manager Peter Chiarelli saw a lot of positives with the performance of his primary agitator. With the Bruins in such a tight spot with the salary cap, he needed to see the best in some of his players. The B’s will also need to cut wherever they can in order to secure contracts for Torey Krug and Reilly Smith, but it looks like Marchand’s status has certainly improved.
“We talked a little about his conditioning,” said Chiarelli on what inspired Marchand’s offseason. “He was going to try some different frequencies. “Sometimes players have ‘off’ years, and you chalk it up to being an ‘off’ year. He still scored a bunch of goals(twenty five). He wasn’t entirely happy with his play, and we weren’t either. But I know he’s a good kid, and he was obviously going to work hard at the conditioning over the summer. Now we’re seeing a good start to it.”
We’ll get to see more of that good start as Marchand sharpens his beak to take on our ancient rivals, the Montreal Canadiens at the Bell Centre tomorrow night.
Head on over to Causeway Crowd’s Facebook site to see interviews with Brad Marchand, Patrice Bergeron, Dennis Seidenberg, and GM Peter Chiarelli.
www.facebook.com/CausewayCrowd