As it tends to be during the playoffs, Brad Marchand is at the center of attention when the Boston Bruins are playing.
He started the first-round series against the Toronto Maple Leafs great, with eight points through his first four games. But Marchand doesn’t just bring offensive contributions to his team.
He’s a warrior who does almost everything to get his opponents out of balance. And he’s been doing a great job with it so far, being in the Leafs’ face through every game.
He’s a great player, but the headlines around Marchand tend to be about other things than just hockey and this playoff; Leafs’ head coach Sheldon Keefe has said that what Marchand is doing on the ice during playoffs is ’art’ and that he’s an expert in getting away without penalties during games.
In fact, during the first three games of the series, Marchand hadn’t taken a single minor penalty, although he was in several physical battles and incidents, especially with his former teammate Tyler Bertuzzi, now with the Maple Leafs.
The Boston Bruins were eliminated in the first round of last year’s playoffs after holding a 3-1 series lead over the Florida Panthers.
As the Bruins lost Game 5 against the Leafs, Bruins fans started to worry about history repeating itself, and it was obvious how much Thursday’s game meant to everyone involved.
The game, played in Toronto, ended in a Toronto win, forcing a deciding Game 7. But Brad Marchand is lucky to have remained in Game 6 after an incident in the first period that quickly made the rounds on social media.
As Marchand was on his way to the Bruins’ bench, a linesman was standing in his way, and instead of skating around him, Marchand pushed him to get him out of his way.
According to NHL rules, any player who deliberately applies physical force in any manner against an official shall receive a game misconduct penalty.
Marchand got away with it, and although the referees tend to allow more during playoffs, the B’s captain was lucky not to have been punished for the push.
On social media, fans were slamming Marchand for his behavior, with many hoping he gets suspended.
”Kadri gets 5 for that one,” one said.
”Shoved the linesman harder than Domi shoved Marchand, and the linesman was able to stay on his feet. A miracle!” another said.
”That’s direspect from Marchand, not a great attitude from a Captain,” a third added.
Here’s the rule in its full:
”40.1 Game Misconduct – Any player who deliberately applies physical force in any manner against an official, in any manner attempts to injure an official, physically demeans, or deliberately applies physical force to an official solely for the purpose of getting free of such an official during or immediately following an altercation shall receive a game misconduct penalty.”
