VIDEO: Bruins’ Marchand undresses Rielly, cheap shots Komarov in vintage 1st period performance

Photo Credit: Greg M. Cooper/USA TODAY Sports

Boston Bruins super pest Brad Marchand isn’t just an annoying, dirty, occasionally dangerous opponent – he’s also really, really good. That’s what makes him a super pest, and not just a pest.

In the first period of Saturday night’s game between the Maple Leafs and the Bruins, Marchand’s full array of skills were on display. For Morgan Rielly, that meant being unceremoniously undressed as Marchand went through the young Maple Leafs defender – twice! – to set up a dangerous chance at a scoring chance. For Leo Komarov, that meant taking a dangerous knee-on-knee hit in the neutral zone. 

Let’s start with what Marchand did to entertain in the first period. This move on Rielly is just filthy:

Marchand would’ve beat Reimer too, but he lost control of the puck while completing his cross-crease deke.

The move may have been filthy, but the hit on Komarov was significantly filthier. The actual moment of contact is obscured by Dion Phaneuf, but there’s no doubt that Marchand hung his knee on the similarly annoying (in a good way!) Maple Leafs winger.

Somehow Marchand wasn’t penalized for the knee-on-knee hit, although he was later assessed a roughing penalty against James van Riemsdyk (even though van Riemsdyk initiated the scrum).