Boston Bruins Forward Brad Marchand Named NHL’s First Star of the Week in Week Ending on March 19
Brad Marchand has been hot in 2017. Since Jan. 1, no player has scored more goals or points than Marchand who has recorded 27 goals and 48 points in that time. In the week ending on March 19, Marchand did more of the same by leading the league in scoring with nine points – five goals and four assists in just three games. Rewarded for his efforts, Marchand was named the NHL’s first star of the week.
On March 13, Marchand recorded a hat-trick (his second of the year) and an assist against the Vancouver Canucks. In doing so, Marchand also recorded the eventual game-winning goal for the Bruins. Just two nights later against the Calgary Flames, Marchand scored a goal and an assist to put an end to the Flames’ 10-game win streak – leaving them one win short of a new franchise record. Despite the Bruins losing to the Edmonton Oilers 7-4 on March 16, Marchand still made his mark with one goal and two assists.
A Dominant Year
No player has been hotter than Marchand in the last few months. His play has been dominant and has helped the Bruins on their quest to secure a playoff spot for the first time in three seasons. Once considered a pure pest, Marchand has finally started to prove to everybody that he’s an incredibly skilled player on both ends of the ice with a legitimate scoring touch.
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Marchand is up to 37 goals and 79 points in 71 games. He’s a contender for multiple individual accolades this season, including the Hart Memorial Trophy, Art Ross Trophy and the Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy. Though the race has been tight with Sidney Crosby, Connor McDavid and Patrick Kane keeping their names relevant in the race for the awards above, Marchand has kept his pace and has shown that he’s just as good as any other player in the league offensively.
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Marchand may or may not win individual awards this season. For the 28-year-old, the playoffs are the priority. As he continues to dominate the league, that priority is looking more and more like a real possibility. Time will tell what happens to Marchand’s bid for awards, but for now, he can take solace in knowing the Bruins maintain a playoff spot while he sits atop the NHL as it’s first star of the week.