BOSTON — The first 22 of Brad Marchand’s shots of 2024-25 had done nothing. This is unusual. The Boston Bruins captain has a 15.2 percent career shooting percentage. Marchand has a heavy and accurate shot that usually approaches goalies from difficult areas.
You could say, then, he was due.
Marchand’s first goal of the season came at a good time. In overtime Saturday, Marchand’s close-range goal beat Anthony Stolarz to give the misfiring Bruins a much-needed 4-3 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs.
BRAD IS ON THE BOARD ©️ pic.twitter.com/DNDS6oZi35
— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) October 27, 2024
It came after Marchand flubbed a chance for an empty-net goal in regulation. This allowed Auston Matthews to score the game-tying strike.
“I’ve been through many different stretches in my career, good and bad,” said Marchand. “You’ve got to stay even-keeled. I wasn’t getting too caught up in it. But is nice to get that one out of the way for sure.”
This season has not started the way Marchand expected. He is still finding his game after an interrupted summer of training because of three offseason procedures. Marchand’s team is struggling too, albeit not necessarily because of injuries. The Bruins are hiccuping, which made Saturday’s rambunctious first period more of the exception instead of the rule.
“The speed with which we played in all three zones,” coach Jim Montgomery said of his club’s opening 20 minutes. “Especially our checking speed. But also how smart we were with the puck.”
Perhaps part of Marchand’s problem in particular is the diminishment of his line. Jake DeBrusk, who once rode shotgun with Marchand and Charlie Coyle, is now a Vancouver Canuck. The Bruins did not replace DeBrusk in the offseason. His absence is keenly felt after nine games.
Fabian Lysell fell short in his preseason audition. Morgan Geekie, who has yet to score a goal, is so invisible on offense that Montgomery made him a healthy scratch on Oct. 16 for the first time as a Bruin. Matt Poitras got the second-line call to start against the Leafs. But by the second period, Poitras was back in his natural position at center on the No. 3 line.
Maybe Justin Brazeau, for now, is the solution for the Bruins’ problem at No. 2 right wing.
Brazeau has his shortcomings. He is not and will never be a go-go skater. Because of his lack of foot speed, it can be hard for Brazeau to get above pucks and be in the right spots defensively.
But Brazeau’s strengths include stickhandling in tight areas, occupying net-front office space and protecting pucks from defensemen.
And scoring.
Brazeau has goals in back-to-back games. His latest tied the game at 2-2 in Saturday’s second period. After Stolarz turned back Poitras and Trent Frederic, Brazeau made sure the Toronto goalie would not do the same on the third line’s third attempt.
BRAZ WITH THE PUT BACK. pic.twitter.com/7B8tcrc7sm
— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) October 27, 2024
“Hit the net. Don’t miss the net,” Brazeau said of what he was thinking when he settled the puck. “I knew he was sliding across. I was just trying to get it up as fast as I can.”
His coach noticed. Montgomery promoted Brazeau to the No. 2 line. He may stick there for a while.
“He understands how we want to play,” said Montgomery. “He understands the details in all three zones. It’s just nice to see the way he has responded. He was a big part of what we did in the playoffs last year and toward the end of the regular season. I think he’s starting to get his confidence back. That was a really important goal for us.”
Brazeau was average in training camp. He was not much better when the games started for real.
After four season-starting games without a goal, Brazeau earned a seat upstairs alongside Geekie on Oct. 16. Two games later, Brazeau was back in a suit and tie.
Once Montgomery put Brazeau back in the lineup two games ago, the right wing has done nothing but score goals.
“I’m not sure if there’s just one thing,” Brazeau said of what’s helped him correct his course. “I’ve just been focused on the whole year and trying to build my game day by day. Obviously I didn’t have quite the start I wanted to the first couple games. But I thought the last couple have started to go my way. I’ve just got to keep doing that.”
Brazeau may not be a long-term solution. The deficiency at No. 2 right wing might require general manager Don Sweeney to acquire a more permanent fix. But Brazeau has the size and net-front touch to earn more time with Marchand and Coyle.
The Bruins, meanwhile, still have work to do.
“It’s one game,” Marchand said. “It’s not going to completely turn things around. But it’s a great way to realize that when we play the right way, we’re a good team.”
(Photo: Brian Fluharty / Getty Images)
