Brad Marchand of Halifax, Nova Scotia scored his second career playoff overtime winner on Monday. The Boston Bruins left winger scored from Matt Grzelcyk of Boston, Massachusetts, and David Krejci of Sternberk, Czech Republic at the 39-second mark of the first overtime period to give the Bruins a 4-3 win over the Washington Capitals in game two of the East Division semifinal from Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C. With the win, the Bruins and Capitals are now tied at one game apiece in their best-out-of-seven series.
Marchand was one of four Canadians to score in the game. The others were Taylor Hall of Calgary, Alberta, Jake DeBrusk of Edmonton, Alberta, and Canadian Olympic gold medalist Patrice Bergeron of L’Ancienne-Lorette, Quebec. Bergeron won a gold medal for Canada in men’s hockey at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver and the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi. Grzelcyk meanwhile was the only Bruins player to have a multi-point game, as he had two assists.
Marchand’s overtime winner at the 39-second mark was the fastest goal from the start of overtime in Bruins postseason history. The previous record was from Bobby Orr of Parry Sound, Ontario, who scored 40 seconds into overtime in the Bruins 4-3 win over the St. Louis Blues in game four of the 1970 Stanley Cup Final. Orr is remembered for leaping through the air while scoring, in winning the Stanley Cup for Boston. It is considered one of the most iconic moments in hockey history.
Speaking of big goals, one could argue the game-tying goal by Hall in the Bruins win over the Capitals on Monday, was the biggest goal of his NHL career. Hall does have 228 regular season goals, and five postseason goals. However, if the Bruins do not tie the game with two minutes left, they are down two games to none.
Marchand’s other overtime winner in the playoffs came in game one of the 2013 Eastern Conference Final. Marchand scored in a 3-2 Bruins win over the New York Rangers.
