TORONTO – Brad Marchand was with a brand new workforce, however felt very a lot at residence beating up an previous foe within the Toronto Maple Leafs on Sunday.
Marchand scored as soon as and arrange his linemates for 2 different targets within the Florida Panthers’ 6-1 win in opposition to the workforce the 37-year-old left-wing grew up cheering for.
He turned the primary participant in NHL historical past to win 5 Recreation 7s in opposition to the identical franchise after profitable the 4 earlier occasions with the Boston Bruins.
Sure, the menace Maple Leafs’ fanatics like to hate, obtained the final chortle — once more.
“I grew up a Leafs fan, and I get pleasure from taking part in in opposition to the Leafs,” Marchand mentioned. “I get pleasure from interacting with followers. It’s enjoyable. I don’t take myself too severely. I like getting made enjoyable of and I like making enjoyable of individuals. When you can’t take it, then so be it. I’m going to benefit from the moments that I’ve.
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“Once I are available in right here and I get booed, I’m good. I’m going to point out it. I’m going to get pleasure from that.”
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In a collection wherein the highest two strains on every workforce cancelled out one another, the Panthers thrived with the depth of Marchand’s third line and the fourth line.
Marchand’s linemates, Anton Lundell and Eetu Luostarinen, every scored. Fourth-liner Jonah Gadjovich additionally linked.
Marchand felt the defending champions’ expertise got here shining by way of in opposition to the lacklustre Maple Leafs.
“While you win a cup and also you play in a number of the video games that this workforce performed in final 12 months, these are usually not high-pressure video games,” he mentioned.
Marchand was a commerce deadline acquisition. However as a result of he was injured and never taking part in, it was troublesome for the agitator to develop into acquainted along with his new environment. However as soon as he began taking part in, studying the Panthers’ five-player forecheck, the Stanley Cup winner with the 2010-11 Bruins match proper in.
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Panthers head Paul Maurice was grateful that assistant GM Gregory Campbell had urged Florida to commerce for Marchand. The 2 had been longtime Bruins teammates.
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“He’s an extremely optimistic spirit,” Maurice mentioned. “Guys who’re vocal and intense typically will probably be screaming on the bench. They get so wired. He by no means does that.”
Maurice added there’s a Marchand impact with kids Lundell and Luostarinen.
“He’s affected these guys in such a optimistic mind-set in regards to the recreation, and making performs in small areas and making them really feel these two younger guys have it in them,” Maurice mentioned.
The veteran coach additionally saved his good Recreation 7 document intact. He now has gone 6-0 in Recreation 7s.
“Recreation 7s are for the gamers,” Maurice mentioned. “It doesn’t matter how your arms really feel. It doesn’t matter how your physique feels. It doesn’t matter how effectively you execute.
“If it’s how snug you’re in exhausting conditions, then you might have an opportunity.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first printed Might 18, 2025.
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