Marchand milestone: B’s winger plays in 800th
Game against Devils 800th in his career
Longevity in the NHL is never a given, especially for a pugnacious undersized winger willing to muck it up against all comers in the dirty areas.
Bruins left wing Brad Marchand played in his milestone 800th NHL game during Monday night’s encounter with the New Jersey Devils at the Prudential Center. The Bruins will face the Devils for the eighth and final time tonight.
“The game gets easier as you get older as long as you can keep up with the pace and everything,” said Marchand following the Bruins’ morning skate.
“It’s been a fun ride, no question about that and it’s been an incredible journey. We are so fortunate to play this game and your career can end any day. So, every day we get truly is a gift and I try to make the most of it and enjoy every day.”
The 5-foot-9, 181-pound Marchand entered his 48th
game of the season averaging 18:57 minutes per game, the most by a Bruins forward, logging significant ice time on the first power play and penalty kill units. Marchand skates on the “Perfection Line” with captain Patrice Bergeron at center and David Pastrnak on the right flank.
“I feel very fortunate,” said Marchand. “It is a nice little milestone but as you get older, it is all about how you take care of yourself.
“You kind of have to learn that at a younger age and I’ve had great leaders to watch and learn from. So that’s good, this is another game and hopefully there will be many more.”
Marchand, 32, joined the organization as the 71st pick in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft and began his career as an instigator who delighted in rattling opponents.
Marchand joined the Bruins full time in the 2010-11 season and helped guide the team to the Stanley Cup championship. Under Bergeron’s guidance, Marchand developed into a reliable two-way forward who would later evolve into one of the NHL’s elite scorers.
Marchand is enjoying one of his best campaigns in the pandemic abbreviated 2020-21 season. Marchand was named the East Division’s Player of the Month in April after scoring 14 goals with 10 assists in 17 games.
Marchand notched his fourth career hat trick against the Pittsburgh Penguins on April 3 to go along with three multi-goal games and three fourpoint games. Marchand’s efforts in April puts him in the discussion for the Hart Trophy, give annually to the league’s MVP.
“I think as you get older and the longer you are around the game just slows down for you,” said Marchand. “You learn where the space is and how to kind of put yourself in position to give yourself more time.
“I think that is the biggest thing. As you come in you just kind of skate around a million miles and hour and just try to earn your spot. But as you kind of learn the game a lot more and positionally where you should be. It’s just a matter of where you should be.”
Swayman’s stellar start
Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy cited rookie goalie Jeremy Swayman’s maturity as a contributing factor to the magnificent start to his NHL career.
Swayman and Dan Vladar were summoned from Providence when the Bruins backend was hit with a double whammy.
From March 9 to April 15, No. 1 goalie Tuukka Rask missed 17 games in an 18-game stretch with an upper body injury. The team’s backup Jaroslav Halak went into the NHL’s COVID-19 protocols on April 5 and has only played one period since.
Swayman filled the void, especially in back-to-back game situations while Rask was working his way back into the rotation. Swayman, 22, is a rangy presence in the net who played collegiately at Maine.
He is currently 6-2 in eight starts with a 1.62 goals against average and a .942 save percentage. Cassidy will start either Halak or Swayman in the curtain call against the Devils tonight.
“He is a mature kid for his age and obviously to come into the pros in his first year and to be able to handle what has been thrown at him,” said Cassidy. “There is a certain level of obvious physical skills and the ability to stop the puck and play the position.
“He is hard working guy and he’s humble. He credits his teammates in front of him, he does the right things and then gets down to work knowing he’s a good goaltender.”
Shifting blue line
Cassidy said defenseman Brandon Carlo with play in tonight’ game against the Devils, a move that should be an indicator of the unit’s make up down the stretch and into the playoffs.
Carlo missed 10 straight games after taking a devastating blow to the head by Capitals’ forward Tom Wilson on March 5. He returned for two games but suffered an abdominal injury against Pittsburgh on April 1 and hasn’t played since. Carlo played most of the season alongside puckmover Matt Grzelcyk and Cassidy liked that pairing.
Kevan Miller will sit out the Devils’ finale because he does not play in back-to-backs. Mike Reilly missed Monday’s game with a maintenance but will only miss one match. He was replaced by Jakub Zboril. Charlie McAvoy was paired with Jeremy Lauzon in the final game against the Sabres on May 1.