Bruins
Marchand scored twice in the Panthers’ Game 2 win to help even up the series.
The Brad Marchand trade has continued to pay dividends for the Panthers.
Marchand scored the game-winning goal in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final, helping the Panthers beat the Oilers, 5-4, and even the series. The former Bruins star’s game-winner came nearly halfway through the second overtime, beating the Oilers’ defense on a breakaway before his backhander trickled past goalie Stuart Skinner.
The goal actually marked Marchand’s second of the night. He scored a short-handed goal on a breakaway that gave the Panthers a 4-3 lead with just under eight minutes remaining in the second period.
As Marchand was able to bury both breakaway chances, he had one thought in the back of his mind during each goal.
“Just don’t forget the puck,” Marchand told reporters. “That’s the main thing. I’ve done that before. It’s not a good feeling.”
Marchand even seemed to be a little surprised by his game-winning goal.
“I think the timing was thrown off a little bit maybe for the goalie because [Oilers defenseman Evan] Bouchard gave me a whack. I don’t really know what happened. But fortunate it went in,” Marchand said.
Marchand’s first goal appeared like it was going to be the game-winning goal for a good portion of Friday’s Game 2. The Panthers and goalie Sergei Bobrovsky were able to keep the Oilers off the scoreboard for over 47 minutes of action until Corey Perry scored the game-tying goal with 17.8 seconds remaining.
It marked the second straight game that the Panthers gave up the game-tying goal in the third period to force overtime. But as Florida looked to avenge its Game 1 overtime loss, the team remained loose in between the two breaks and thought its newest star veteran was a candidate to save the day.
“We were upbeat, joking around, having some fun, picking guys who we think was going to score,” Panthers star Matthew Tkachuk told reporters. “I’m sure a lot of guys probably had Marchy.”
When Marchand’s breakaway opportunity came in the second overtime, his teammates also had a strong belief that he was about to win them the game and help even the series.
“I think our whole bench stood up when he had a breakaway there,” Sam Bennett said. “It’s just a huge play at a huge time. He’s been incredible for us this whole playoffs, scoring massive goals at massive times. That one was definitely the biggest.”
There was a good reason for Bennet, Tkachuk, and the rest of Marchand’s Panthers teammates to feel confident that he would help win them the game. Friday’s goal marked the fifth playoff overtime goal of Marchand’s career. That puts him in a four-way tie for the most playoff overtime goals among active players (Perry, Carter Verhaeghe, Patrick Kane). He’s also tied for the third-most playoff overtime goals in NHL history, with Joe Sakic (eight) and Maurice Richard (six) being the only players with more.
“He just finds a way,” Panthers defenseman Nate Schmidt told reporters. “I don’t think the moment ever gets too big for him.”
While Marchand might have been cool, calm, and collected during that moment, his parents couldn’t hide their excitement. The Canadian broadcast showed Marchand’s parents, Kevin and Lynn, going crazy in the stands in a clip that went viral after the game ended.
Marchand had some fun at his parents’ expense before thanking them.
“She is one that you need to put a muzzle on,” Marchand jokingly told reporters. “She gets pretty amped up at the games.
“You know, they’ve always been so supportive, like all of our parents. I mean, I don’t think there’s a player in this league that could say that their parents are not the main reason why they’re here, the sacrifices they all make, and when you go on a journey as a team and you get to the [Cup Final] and you’re going on a run, it’s not just for you. It’s for everybody that helped you get here and all your loved ones that are enjoying the moments, whether they’re here or not, so it’s special to have them in the building.”
The two goals in Friday’s Game 2 gave Marchand seven total this postseason, his first with the Panthers. He also has 10 assists, with his 17 points being tied for the second-most on the team this postseason.
When the Panthers traded for Marchand right before the trade deadline, not many knew what to expect. The Bruins received less than some thought they would get in a trade involving Marchand (a conditional 2028 first-round pick) as he was injured at the time due to an upper-body ailment.
But Marchand, who turned 37 in May, has made himself right at home in Florida ever since he made his team debut in late March. Tkachuk and the rest of Marchand’s Panthers teammates are happy to see him play at the level he did when he was with the Bruins, believing that he still has plenty of hockey left in him.
“His anticipation and his hockey sense is unbelievable,” Tkachuk said. “You see it tonight with two breakaway goals: just seeing the play and he’s gone. I saw that a ton with him playing in Boston. Way better seeing it now.
“He could play till he’s 47 the way he’s going,” Tkachuk added. “Unreal player, unreal competitor.”
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