BOSTON — Playing their second game in as many nights and third in the last four days, the Bruins had nothing to show for themselves through the first 40 minutes Sunday night at TD Garden.
The Columbus Blue Jackets had used a fortuitous bounce in the final minute of the second period to take a 1-0 lead, and a discomfiting feeling was beginning to sink in for the home team.
“You’re going into the third and there’s a feeling creeping in that maybe it’s not your night,” acknowledged defenseman Charlie McAvoy.
Enter Brad Marchand. Exit any worries.
The team captain erupted for natural hat trick in the third period, accounting for all three goals in the Bruins’ 3-1 victory over Columbus.
“It really felt like he just kind of threw us on his back and said, ‘I’ll take us across the finish line here,’ ” said defenseman Charlie McAvoy. “He has that capability. He plays with so much passion and energy.”
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It marked the second night in a row that Marchand had come to the Bruins’ rescue late in the game. On Saturday night in Toronto, he potted the game-winner in overtime to deliver his team the extra point. As it turned out, however, he was just getting warmed up.
First, Marchand notched the equalizer, taking a cross-ice feed from Danton Heinen to tie the game at 1:56 of the final period. Next, he took a feed between the faceoff circles and snapped off a shot through traffic to give the B’s their first lead at 5:37.
Finally, closing from the left circle, he unleashed a wrister to beat Columbus goalie Spencer Martin to the glove side.
All that was left was for the Bruins to protect the lead over the final 12 minutes, which they did successfully.
The four goals over two games represented something of a breakout for Marchand, who had been in a scoring slump prior to Saturday. His previous goal had come three weeks earlier, on Nov. 11, in Montreal.
But neither Marchand nor his coach, Jim Montgomery, was overly concerned with the scoring drought.
“He’s just an excellent player and he hopes you win even when he’s not scoring,” said Montgomery. “I don’t worry about production, per se, with him. It’s going to come with him.’’
“I really wasn’t too concerned about it,” said Marchand of going without a goal over eight games. “I was having three or four really good opportunities to score every night. That’s how the game goes sometimes. You get one shot and you get a goal and sometimes you get 10 (shots) and you don’t get one. I don’t judge my game based on whether I score or not.
“It’s more about how the details are going and if opportunities are there are you’re consistently getting them, eventually, they’re going to go in. I wasn’t really worried about it. I’ve learned, at this point in my career, that’s how the game goes.”
Now in his 15th season, Marchand has learned that ups and downs are going to take place, and it’s best not to obsess about a scoring slump. The less he dwells on it, in fact, the better off he is.
“I don’t think it matters what you’ve accomplished or what you’ve done in this league,” said Marchand. “It’s hard every night. Confidence is a huge factor, too, and whether you have it or you don’t, it can really drastically change the way you play and view the game. It’s about having a good mindset and continue to stick with it.
The hat trick was the sixth of his career, and as the TD Garden crew scooped up the many hats tossed onto the ice, Marchand grabbed a Santa hat to serve as his keepsake for the evening.
“They’re nice to get. They don’t come often,” said Marchand. “It’s just sometimes how it goes, you get the bounces and sometimes you don’t.”
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From the other end of the ice, goaltender Jeremy Swayman watched Marchand score from three different areas of the ice — left, center and right — and almost felt sorry for Martin.
“He’s a world class player and he’s going to keep goalies guessing,” said Swayman. “He does that in practice all the time. I have a front-row seat for his talent every day. I think that only helps our team and our goaltenders. I know he’s got a heavy shot. He’s a smart shooter, he’s going to keep his head up and he’s going to look for a shot and a pass. He’s going to see everyone on the ice and make it difficult for defense and goalies to block it and save pucks.
“I’m really happy that he’s on our team.”
Especially this weekend.
