Photo: Sportsnet
Boston Bruins forward Brad Marchand was clearly frustrated in the first meeting of the season between the Bruins and Washington Capitals back on October 3 in a 7-0 Capitals victory on opening night, when the Capitals raised their first Stanley Cup Championship banner in franchise history.
Photo: Patrick McDermott via NHL/Getty Images
After a four-goal second period, the Capitals led the Bruins by a score of 6-0. 10:52 into the third period, Capitals center Lars Eller scored blocker side on Bruins goaltender Jaroslav Halak on a breakaway to make it 7-0. On his way back to the Capitals’ bench to fist bump his teammates, Eller raised his hand and spun it a little bit in front of the Bruins’ bench.
Many probably did not think much of it… but Marchand did.
In the middle of the next shift, Marchand was unafraid to express how he felt about Eller’s celebration, grabbing his jersey and started delivering punches up high to Eller. Marchand ended the fight delivering two punches to Eller’s face, which caused him to bleed. Marchand was excused for the rest of the night.
On Thursday night, the Bruins and Capitals clash at TD Garden for the first time since that 7-0 route by Washington on opening night. Unlike the first meeting of the season between the two teams, the Capitals will have forward Tom Wilson, who likely has something planned for Marchand when the two approach each other on the ice to defend his teammate, in the lineup.
The odds are that the Bruins, who have won five consecutive games, will bring their best game after getting embarrassed by the reigning Stanley Cup Champions, whom they’ve not won a game against since March 29, 2014 (13 games), in the first game of the season. It is also likely that the Capitals want retribution on Marchand after what he did to Eller in that night.
The two teams will clash once more this season after tomorrow: on February 3 at Capital One Arena.
By Harrison Brown
It’s been aeons since we’ve had a good old fashioned bench-clearing brawl in a Caps game. To Hades with Gary Buttman, and let’s slug this one out the manly, NHL way! Call up Tyler Lewington and Nathan Walker and prepare to fight the Beantown Goons!
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