Kristen Shilton, ESPN NHL reporter
Toronto Maple Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe called it “unbelievable” what Boston Bruins forward Brad Marchand was able to do in the Bruins’ 4-2 win over Toronto in Game 3 of their first-round Stanley Cup playoff series on Wednesday.
Keefe was asked about an apparent non-call for interference that happened in the first period, when Marchand tripped up Leafs’ forward Tyler Bertuzzi right before Boston forward Trent Frederic tied the game 1-1. Boston went on to secure a victory and take a 2-1 lead in their best-of-seven series.
“He gets calls,” said Keefe of Marchand. “It’s unbelievable, actually, how it goes. You’ve got to play through that stuff. I don’t think there’s another player in this series who gets away with taking out Bertuzzi’s legs the way that he does. It’s an art and he’s elite at it.”
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Marchand was a significant factor throughout the night for Boston, finishing with two goals and one assist and depositing the game-winner midway through the third period.
Toronto had been in control of the game early on though when rookie Matthew Knies got on the board with his first goal of the series to give the Leafs a 1-0 lead in the first period. Frederic’s salvo in response appeared to be aided by lack of interference called on Marchand against Bertuzzi, and Knies acknowledged how the Leafs must adjust to manage Marchard’s presence when he’s on the ice.
“He wants to get under our skin,” said Knies. “He wants to influence the refs, so I think we’ve just got to be composed and not kind of get into that bullshit. Just play hard and make him [not as] effective.”
That’s easier said than done. Marchand also drew the Leafs’ ire when he took down forward Auston Matthews behind the net without a call. And Marchand got involved again with Bertuzzi in the offensive zone right before pocketing the empty netter to seal Boston’s win.
It was a bitter end for Toronto in multiple ways. The Leafs had not only held the lead once off Knies’ goal, but after falling behind in the second off Jake DeBrusk’s third score of the series. Morgan Rielly had responded to knot the score at 2-2 in the third, and just 28 seconds later Marchand’ fired home his game-winning dagger.
“You’ve got to recognize he’s a world class player, both in ability and how he plays, in the gamesmanship and everything.,” said Keefe of Marchand. “It’s world class, and he’s been in the league long enough, as you can see….we have to manage our way through that, avoid putting ourselves in situations where he can put us in those spots. And as far as his game is concerned, I think we’ve managed that pretty well, for the most part. Obviously, tonight, we make a mistake at a key time that allows him to get the winner.”
Now it’s on Toronto to respond when the two sides meet again for Game 4 on Saturday. The Leafs have now lost five straight playoff contests at home and risk going back to Boston to face elimination in Game 5 if that streak continues.