As Leaf fans, we know better than most the type of antics and shenanigans that Bruins captain Brad Marchand employs on a night-to-night basis. We have seen him steal important goal pucks, lick opposing players and slew-footing players right off of faceoffs behind an official's back. However, what he attempted to do to rookie sensation Connor Bedard on Wednesday might take the cake.
Prior to the game, Marchand was asked what he might do or say to Bedard in just his second taste of NHL regular season action. Marchand, with his cheeky grin, simply said that Bedard is a great player and "you leave a guy like that alone". However, you just knew by the way he said it that someone was going to occur to get under the skin of Bedard and the Hawks.
During the game, as both Bedard and Marchand were heading to their respective benches for a change, Marchand actually wrapped his stick around the body of Bedard in an attempt to delay his ability to change. He then tried to corral Bedard and drag him into the Bruins' bench.
Honestly, what did we expect? Are we supposed to take Marchand at his word, especially when you could tell by his s**t-eating grin and the tone of his voice that he planned to get a rise out of the Hawks and Bedard in the contest? Clearly he was going to do something. I have to admit, though... this was a pretty funny and innocent way to try to agitate Bedard, who, to his credit, went about it the right way, just trying to ignore Marchy.
Unfortunately, the result of the game wasn't the one the Hawks were hoping for, dropping a 3-1 decision at home to the Bruins.
