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Boston Bruins Season Rides on the First Line’s Shoulders

By Dan Watkins

BOSTON, MA - APRIL 21: Boston's tip line of Boston Bruins center Patrice Bergeron (37), Boston Bruins right wing David Pastrnak (88) and Boston Bruins left wing Brad Marchand (63) skate out for a face off during Game 5 of the First Round for the 2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs between the Boston Bruins and the Toronto Maple Leafs on April 21, 2018, at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. The Maple Leafs defeated the Bruins 4-3. (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - APRIL 21: Boston's tip line of Boston Bruins center Patrice Bergeron (37), Boston Bruins right wing David Pastrnak (88) and Boston Bruins left wing Brad Marchand (63) skate out for a face off during Game 5 of the First Round for the 2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs between the Boston Bruins and the Toronto Maple Leafs on April 21, 2018, at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. The Maple Leafs defeated the Bruins 4-3. (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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After falling 3-1 in Game Six, the Boston Bruins are now in a winner take all situation against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Puck Drop for Game Seven between the two Original Six Rivals is 7:30pm Wednesday night.

The combination of Brad Marchand, Patrice Bergeron, and David Pastrnak has been, when healthy, the best and most impactful line for the Boston Bruins, and arguably the entire NHL this season. It should come as no surprise that through the first six games of the first round against the Toronto Maple Leafs that has held to form and the performance of the trio has had drastic impact as to who comes out victorious from each game.

When the Bruins win, the group has been in scorched earth mode, combining for a plus-20 rating, six goals and 23 points. When Boston loses, the line has a minus-16 rating with ZERO points. Not exactly a recipe for success.

All of that however is now firmly in the rear-view mirror. The trio, along with the entire team know that it comes down to one game, and it doesn’t matter what you’ve done or haven’t done so far, all that matters is what you do on Wednesday night.

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When speaking to reporters after Game Six, Marchand echoed those thoughts exactly:

"Whatever has happened the last six games really doesn’t mean anything. We’re both fighting for our lives next game, so its gonna be a lot of fun, it’s gonna be a big challenge."

A Never Say Die Group

This has been a resilient bunch all season long, and even though they’ve lost two straight and three out of four, showing a bit of frustration, like Marchand slamming his stick into the ice after a questionable offisides call in the third period. Bergeron said post game that the team has to move past that frustration and dig deep for Game Seven:

"Maybe there was a little bit of that, but you go back to the drawing boards, and find some character that we’ve shown all year and now it’s all about that one game. You can look back all you want, but that’s where we’re at. It’s the position we’re in, you have to prevail."

TORONTO, ON – APRIL 23: Patrice Bergeron
TORONTO, ON – APRIL 23: Patrice Bergeron /

All three of these guys are among the very best at their respective positions across the league, you can whine and moan all you want about who should be dressed and who should be playing with who as far as the other nine forwards go, but at the conclusion of Game Seven, the outcome will be determined by the play of Bergeron, Marchand, and Pastrnak.

Next: Marchand is the Dark Knight of Boston

Tuesday’s Practice Lines

Marchand – Bergeron – Pastrnak
DeBrusk – Krejci – Heinen
Rick Nash – Riley Nash – Backes
Schaller – Kuraly – Acciari
Donato – Gionta – Wingels

Chara – McAvoy
Krug – Miller
Grzelcyk – McQuaid
Holden

Rask
Khudobin
Vladar

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