Bruins’ rout of Habs makes for triumphant Marchand return
Marchand/By S. Bradley
Just a couple weeks ago, Brad Marchand returned to his hometown of Halifax, Nova Scotia to celebrate with the Stanley Cup.
Last night he had reason to celebrate their again, as he scored a goal in the Bruins’ 7-3 destruction of the Montreal Canadiens at his old junior rink.
Zdeno Chara, Daniel Paille, Jordan Caron, Gregory Campbell, Joe Corvo and Tyler Seguin also scored for the Bruins. Anton Khudobin stopped 30 shots while playing the entire game in his preseason debut.
Marchand is certainly off on the right foot in terms of avoiding the “sophomore slump.” He’s scored a goal in each of his first two preseason games and has been working hard in practices, according to head coach Claude Julien. Marchand recently talked about avoiding a second-year jinx, and here’s my story on that topic from the Boston Herald.
Part of the “sophomore slump” is the fact that opponents key on you and you can no longer fly under the radar. Marchand also discussed that, and here’s a quote I couldn’t get into the story:
“Obviously every hockey player in the world watches the Stanley Cup and the finals, and if you’re able to have your game or two and get a goal or two, people can remember it,” he said. “And it’s nice too. It can help you, but it can hurt you at the same time because now other teams may try to watch you a little more, focus in on you more. I’m not saying that’s going to happen, but goalies might try to read you a little more and watch a little more tape. So it can have impact against you for sure.”
Marchand proved last spring that no amount of pressure really fazes him. So he should be able to produce while under more scrutiny. If he can avoid the extracurricular stuff that will be turned up a notch as opponents try to get under his skin, you’ll never know that he’s just a second-year NHLer.
PatrickD
Thanks for the update. I was happy to hear what you said about Caron, Paille, Campell, Seguin, and Thornton. If Sauve’s is going to make the club, I think the B’s are going to have to make a trade for future draft picks. Chara and Corvo sounds interesting as a defensive pairing.
I think your analysis on Hamill and Clark is probably true, unfortunately.
RD, do you think they wanted the vets to play at home tonight rather than in Halifax? I’m sure the venue doesn’t matter to Canadiens fans but maybe that was the management’s idea.
Greg,
I can understand what you’re saying but none of those guys were going to be playing anywhere near Montreal this season. If they want to evaluate the young guys, fine, but I think the preseason should also serve as preparation for the guys that are going to actually play during the season. The last thing I want to see is the regulars needing 3-4 games to get adjusted at the beginning of the season when they could have been doing this during those pre-season games.
The Canadiens have scheduled something like 6 games in 8 nights? Why? 21273 people in the stands no matter what. So personally, I think if they’re going to charge that much money for a ticket, there should be some quality on the ice.
40-50 $ I wish we had those prices…
You’re right Cormac, McQuaid did get hurt last night but I found he looked lost before that. Even in the Ottawa game he seemed to be all over the place but never in the right place. But who knows with pre-season…hopefully he turns it up when the real show starts.
The RDS play-by-play broadcasters tried to make a big deal out of Kampfer’s terrific check on Cole in the 1st period. Funny thing, Cole disappeared after the first period, as did Gomez. I guess Campbell’s discussion with Gomez during the face off to start the 2nd period did the trick..LOL
McKelvie(1st Star) had a great game and the B’s 4th Line regulars did a great job playing on mixed lines. The hab regulars looked pretty weak. Considering the B’s only brought 1 regular center(Campbell), I thought the habs would take advantage.
Gill couldn’t skate any slower, could he? Marchand knocked him down while taking the puck from him in the 2nd period.
Gallagher for the habs looked real good. He and Caron had a boat load of chances,..glad Caron got one though. Seguin’s shot is lethal. He peppered Budaj a few times before scoring 5-hole.
PatrickD, Khudobin did look good…I think McQuaid got hurt blocking a shot early in the game. Sauve has jets on his skates. I was surprised Budaj made the save on his break away.
Hell, the scalpers at TD garden were selling tickets at $40per while the box office had nothing better than $50 for Friday’s game.
If they played more NHL players, it wouldn’t be preseason.
RD, some people in the stands want to watch the younger players.
I’m not sure what the Bruins fielded but the Habs put out 4 NHL forwards and 3 NHL defensemen.
I think the good people of Halifax deserved a bit more than that for their money considering pre-game polls had about a 4-1 ratio of habs to bruins fans.
If they are going to charge a lot for these pre-season games, they should have some NHL players in the lineup.
I was passing by the Bell center last week and I heard a scalper selling red seats for 250 each. Pre-season is a shameless cash grab.
I was at the game last night and Marchand seems to be playing the same hockey he played in May and June. Here is my take away from the game:
Horton seemed gun-shy but that is to be expected.
Marchand, Paille, Campbell all looking like they did last season.
Caron looks like he is serious about making the team this year.
Sauve looks good too. He fit in nicely with the checking line.
Hamill is a career AHL player I am afraid.
PC has to pass on Clark. His best is behind him.
Thornton looks like he is still playing for the cup. You have to love this guy. All heart.
Seguin is looking bigger and a little meaner. And still has a lazer or a shot.
Chara and Corvo look GREAT together.
McQuaid looks lost out there.
Kampfer looks like he could make a run at McQuaids job.
Khudobin looks like a younger Thomas: flopping and spinning and making saves…and when he leaves the net it’s an adventure!
Not that my opinion matters but that was my feeling after the game last night.
Did Cohen get cut? I saw him in the Ottawa game and he looked great.