HORNBY: Bruins bad boy Marchand returns to plague Leafs

Article content

Brad Marchand has been driving the Leafs to distraction since that infamous golf swing to taunt their bench in his 2011 rookie year. 

Article content

Article content

Chirping and chopping at them ever since, through three playoff series Boston has won, when not planting land mine quotes about sensitive matters such as Mitch Marner’s contract, he bears watching in this series, too. 

The Leafs added their own gifted shift disturber in Max Domi this year and it was a Game 1 scene setter Saturday where he was keen to get the early word on skullduggery in an intimidating TD Garden. 

Domi, as his father Tie would’ve likely done, locked lumber with Marchand right at puck drop with a couple of slashes that had the officials stepping in. But with Boston scoring first and pulling away in the second period for an eventual 5-1 win, Marchand could shrug off his challenge, content to cruise by the Leaf bench with a smirk. 

Article content

Article content

Marchand was also shaking his wrist when Domi got him with a second period slash, but didn’t get away with it. Jake DeBrusk scored with him in the box. 

The Leafs got in some tweaks of their own, such as a snow shower by Connor Dewar on Jeremy Swayman and some face washing by Tyler Bertuzzi, but up by so much, the B’s could let it all slide.       

POWER HOUR IS HERE 

 The Bruins came as advertised with home-ice physicality, but their power play problems followed their first unit deep into Game 1 as well. 

At 2-for-23, with David Pastrnak among their notable absentees, they had two chances with Simon Benoit and Bertuzzi off and while hitting some posts, they didn’t build on a one-goal lead against a penalty kill that had laboured. But coach Jim Montgomery has kept the faith in his big guns and in the second unit with DeBrusk. 

Article content

The latter finally broke through with DeBrusk getting two in the second period with Domi and Auston Matthews in the box.   

Toronto, 9-of-72 with the man advantage after March 1, had its best opportunity to tie it 1-1 when opening the second period on a full 4-on-3, but two slot set-ups in Matthews’s wheelhouse didn’t get through. 

 CAN’T SWAY BRUIN GOALIES 

 The Beantown debate of starting Swayman ahead of Linus Ullmark has some layers to it. 

Ullmark had got the call in Game 1 of the previous two playoff years and last spring Swayman only appeared in only two games in the first-round loss to the Florida Panthers. But Swayman, who stopped 93 of 97 shots through three of Boston’s four regular-season wins, was the no-brainer decision, despite coach Jim Montgomery sending up as many red herrings as possible to media. 

Article content

MURRAY AND MARLIES 

Matt Murray’s three-game conditioning stint with the Marlies wrapped up Saturday, as he made 20 saves in a 4-3 home loss to Cleveland. His record was 1-2 with an .846 save percentage after not playing since early 2023 and eventual bilateral hip surgery. 

Dennis Hildeby, whose 2.42 goals-against average ranks seventh in the AHL is expected to start the playoffs with the Marlies completing the schedule Sunday afternoon, also versus Cleveland at home. Kieffer Bellows and Alex Steeves each scored their 27th of the year for Toronto. 

It was confirmed afterwards that the Marlies will face Belleville in the first round, a best-of-three starting there on Wednesday and at Coca-Cola Coliseum Friday evening.    

Article content

LOOSE LEAFS 

Saturday was the first time in eight playoff games the Leafs didn’t get at least two goals … Not the way defenceman Benoit dreamed his long-awaited first NHL playoff game would go, a couple of positional gaffes, a first-period penalty and an offensive chance that hit the bar … These Leafs went into Game 1 trying to be the first edition since 1986 to not get a win in its final four regular season games, but repent and open the playoffs with a victory … More than one commentator has referred to winger Bobby McMann as “found money” where the Leafs are concerned, getting 15 goals for a low cap hit of $762,500 US. But his on-ice presence was what the Leafs missed Saturday, a player perfectly suited for this series in which William Nylander was already unable to start … Goaltender Jake Allen was a nice playoff pick-up for the Hockey Night in Canada panel. Analytical and self-deprecating about Matthews having had his number through the years … Former Leaf-Sportsnet panelist Jamal Mayers on the Leafs drawing Boston for the fourth time in 11 years versus a lesser-known playoff rival: “sometimes you have to deal with the scar tissue” … The Leafs’ radio tandem of Joe Bowen and Jim Ralph were back in a live road setting for the first time all season after calling away games from the studio. Bowen quickly got in a dig in that B’s play in the ‘Toronto Dominion’ Garden in case Boston fans didn’t know the bank’s initials … Clever TV ad by Boston Pizza (the restaurant chain Leaf GM Brad Treliving’s dad Jim owns) suggesting the way to end Canada’s 31-year Cup drought is to have fans’ of the seven teams join forces. Can’t see that happening with lots of anti-Leaf gloating social media posts from non-playoff cities flowing in as the Bruins’ lead mounted. 

Article content