Marchand appreciates Lohrei’s debut
Brad Marchand has a whopping 150 playoff games under his belt. No Bruins player has scored more goals during postseason play than its current captain.
Experience is often a coveted asset during the Stanley Cup playoffs. But Marchand doesn’t always believe that experience is the great equalizer.
When Marchand hoisted the Stanley Cup in 2011, he was a 23-year-old rookie — unburdened by the pressure that builds for players who press for a title.
Thirteen years later, Boston’s elder statesman sees another Bruins rookie following a similar script in 23-year-old defenseman
Mason Lohrei.
“I remember my first run, it’s pure adrenaline,” Marchand, 35, said Saturday after the Bruins’ 3-1 win over the Maple Leafs in Game 4. “You get out there and you’re so excited that you finally have the opportunity. You’ve worked your entire life and you play this game — and the hours and time you put in — to have an opportunity to play for a Stanley Cup. And that’s right there in front of you.”
Pressed into action following an injury to Andrew Peeke, Lohrei played a key role in the Game 4 victory — recording a primary helper on James van Riemsdyk’s opening tally while logging 17:36 of ice time.
“Just how assertive he was,” Bruins coach Jim Montgomery said Sunday of what stood out about Lohrei’s play. “I mean, he was so good [Saturday] night. With the puck, without the puck, he was all over the ice making plays and obviously a big part of why we won.”
A heads-up play from the rookie set the first goal in motion, with Lohrei pinching from the offensive blue line as Toronto bruiser Ryan Reaves tried to corral a puck along the boards. Lohrei’s play prompted Reaves to move the puck under duress, leading to a turnover in Grade-A ice that van Riemsdyk promptly slipped past Ilya Samsonov at 15:09 in the first period.
It was a heady play by Boston’s young blue liner, whose confidence was validated earlier in the period when he tried to beat Samsonov with a slick, between-the-legs atday tempt during four-on-four play.
Lohrei’s creativity with the puck on his stick is welcomed. But to remain in the lineup, he’ll need to continue to avoid turnovers against forechecking pressure and limit the Maple Leafs’ chances in front of Jeremy Swayman and Linus Ullmark.
But through two games, the rookie seems to be up to the task.
“Mason has come in and played unbelievable for us,” Marchand said. “He’s made a lot of really good plays, jumping up in the play. He’s battling hard, he’s making strong plays defensively. So it’s great to see.”
Forbort getting closer
Derek Forbort was not cleared for Games 3 and 4 in Toronto, but the 32-year-old defenseman did take part in warm-ups Saturmagnified. night.
Montgomery said the team will assess Forbort’s availability following Monday’s practice. But his participation in warm-ups checked off another box in Forbort’s recovery after undergoing surgery in March.
“It’s to get him in the routine in case he becomes an option,” Montgomery said. “Getting in the routine of how you get ready to play and all those things.”
Matthews still ill
Maple Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe didn’t have a positive update on star forward Auston Matthews. Matthews did not play in the third period of Game 4, with doctors pulling him from the game because of an illness.
“We thought the last couple of days would help us,” Keefe told reporters in Toronto Sunday. “But, for whatever reason, it’s not one of those run-of-the-mill type of illnesses that sort of comes and goes. This one has lingered, and the effects have lingered and gotten worse when he’s got on the ice and is asserting himself.”
Matthews was Toronto’s best player (one goal, two assists) during its Game 2 win at TD Garden. But he was unable to carry that play over in Games 3 and 4, recording zero points in both losses with a combined four shots on goal.