Boston Bruins pesky forward Brad Marchand is at it again.
In Game 4 of the Bruins’ first-round playoff series against the rival Toronto Maple Leafs, Marchand delivered a questionable hit near the end of the first period, going dangerously low on winger Tyler Bertuzzi.
In this scenario, with both players skating over the center-ice line, targeting the lower body makes Marchand’s hit look even more egregious. While some might call Marchand’s check legal, others would argue it was an unnecessary slew foot, which could easily have injured Bertuzzi.
Regardless of Marchand’s intention, he hasn’t earned much goodwill among the hockey community for similar incidents in the past. His reputation has been on full display in the series against the Leafs alone, with several incidents drawing the ire of the Toronto side.
Marchand secured the go-ahead goal in the Bruins’ 4-2 victory over the Leafs in Game 3, but not before, oddly enough, getting away with an obvious trip on Bertuzzi in the second period. This led to a Boston goal, which, at the time, tied the score 1-1.
Much like his hit on Bertuzzi on Saturday, Marchand’s trip seemed extreme and unsafe. After the game, Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe blasted the Bruins’ pest, saying he had turned getting away with penalties into an “art.”
The shenanigans have gone both ways. Also, in Game 3, Leafs forward Max Domi bumped Bruins netminder Jeremy Swayman to the ice during a commercial timeout, prompting both teams to exchange digs following the contest.
There are still two periods to go in Game 4, but after Marchand’s first-period hit and what’s already transpired in this series, there’s bound to be even more rough stuff and colorful soundbites to come.