Boston Bruins: Brad Marchand has to take some of the blame

It wasn’t meant to be for the Boston Bruins or Brad Marchand. They have lost Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final. The stage, which ended their 39-year drought eight years ago, wasn’t quite as friendly for them this time.

From the Boston Bruins perspective, there were so many players to put a blame on. One of the most prominent Bruins players certainly was Brad Marchand. Unfortunately for the Bruins, for Game 7, he didn’t show up. You can blame him, but rather wait for the outcome.

Seeing Brad Marchand crying after the final whistle watching over to the opposite corner full of the St. Louis Blues players celebrating around Jordan Binnington. That would have been painful for any hockey player on the other side. But Brad Marchand was the one who was really emotional after that loss.

Before Game 7, Marchand told media that he remembers both feelings of the Stanley Cup Final fate. He remembers being successful in 2011 and then falling against the Chicago Blackhawks in 2013. He talked about the worst experience of his life watching the Blackhawks celebrating. He wanted to make sure he doesn’t get to witness that moment again.

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But ultimately, he had to cry. He was heartbroken. More importantly, he didn’t show up for Game 7 and for the large part of the Stanley Cup Final. No even-strength goals for Marchand. Not to put the blame solely on Marchand in that Game 7. Obviously, nobody showed up for that game.

I don’t want to bash on Marchand, because one or two games didn’t go his way. He has forged himself to be a 100-point player for the Bruins. He doesn’t have to demonstrate anything to anybody. If you want to be happy seeing him crying, it´s up to you, you can do whatever you want.

The worst feeling is not losing Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final, it’s the regret that you didn’t give your all, that you couldn’t bring your very best when your team needed that the most. He made the fundamental error on the eventual Stanley Cup-clinching goal by the Blues. That’s why Brad Marchand was so devastated and doleful.

He has worked himself into a place where he is one of the best players in the NHL. People around the league will always judge Marchand based on whatever they want. But fans in Boston love Brad Marchand. He knows he can be better. And he will be better. He is the one to lead. He will lead the Boston Bruins to the promised lands again.

Marchand regretted the missed opportunity and his bad play at the key times, but also the love within the group of the players the Bruins had and it could not have ended in the desired way. That group isn’t going to undergo a massive shake-up in the summer.

Now, it’s painful, but once the days will pass, Brad Marchand will be ready to go. And the Bruins fans and the city of Boston will stand behind him.