Marchand Headlines Top Bruins’ Performances From Last Week

It was a split week for the Boston Bruins. They split their four games, two with the New Jersey Devils and the Pittsburgh Penguins at the TD Garden. As the Bruins look to a new week with three games against the Philadelphia Flyers and one against the Washington Capitals, let’s take one last look back at last week and the three players that made it possible that Boston held onto their grip to the fourth and final playoff berth in the East Division.

1. Brad Marchand

A big reason why the Bruins collected four points was the play of their first-line left wing. Missing both games last weekend in the league’s COVID-19 protocols, Marchand came back with a bang Tuesday night against the Devils.

With Boston trailing 3-1 in the second period, Marchand was able to light a spark with his teammates. He dropped the gloves with Jesper Bratt, then came out of the penalty box to score a power play goal. The Bruins were a team looking like they were in trouble until Marchy woke them up.

After scoring the Bruins’ only goal in a 4-1 loss Thursday night to the Penguins, Saturday Marchand scored three goals and added an assist in a wild 7-5 victory over the Penguins. Marchand is single-handily carrying the Black and Gold right now.

2. Patrice Bergeron

Bergy had an assist in Tuesday’s shootout win over NJ and he also had a team-high eight shots on the net. Saturday against the Penguins, Bergeron saved his best performance for the final game of the week.

He scored Boston’s first goal of the game in the second period to begin a five-goal outburst in the middle period against Pittsburgh goalie Casey DeSmith. That would be the only point the captain would record in the game, but it was what he did at the dot that was his biggest contribution.

He won 76-percent of his draws, going 16-for-21. His biggest win was at the end of the second period and the Bruins ahead 4-3 when he won a draw back to Charlie McAvoy, who fired a perfect pass to Marchand who buried his second of the period for a two-goal lead.

3. Matt Grzelcyk

Tuesday night was a rough night for Grz. He went to the locker room after taking a big hit, but returned to the game and the Bruins were thankful he did.

With the Black and Gold trailing 4-3 late in the third period, Bergeron won a draw in the Devils’ end where Craig Smith slid a cross-ice pass to Grzelcyk and his wrist shot from the point found its way inside the left post to tie the game. Boston went on to win the game in the shootout.

Saturday, with the Bruins down 3-2 in the second period, he pinched in along the wall in the Penguins’ end to collect a loose puck. He skated behind the net and around to the opposite circle where he found a wide-open Marchand on the opposite side of the ice. Marchy beat DeSmith with a wrist shot to tie the game and reward Grzelcyk for his individual effort.