Brad Marchand Mired in a Near Career-Worst Slump
Brad Marchand has been a key player for the Bruins, but despite the team's success this season, he's currently in one of the worst slumps of his career.
The 34-year-old has undoubtedly been vital to Boston's season, but should we be concerned about Marchand's drought as postseason approaches?
Is There Cause for Concern?
As Scott McLaughlin of WEEI recently pointed out, it's been a while since the Bruins' assistant captain has experienced such a dry spell:
Marchand scored his most recent goal on March 9th against the Edmonton Oilers at TD Garden. It's been even more of an extended period since he netted a power play goal, with his last one dating back to January 19th (32 games ago).
Throughout his 13-game goalless streak, the Bruins forward has tallied 8 assists, indicating he's still contributing offensively, albeit not at the rate we've come to expect.
How Can Marchand's Slump Be Fixed?
Clearly, the Bruins require Marchand's scoring when the playoffs arrive, so what should be done to ensure this? Should Jim Montgomery give the veteran some rest, considering there are only five games left in the regular season? Or, is it better for him to work through the issue himself?
As McLaughlin also hinted at, history suggests that Marchand will bounce back once the playoffs start:
Last year, he led the Bruins in playoff goals (4), assists (7) and points (11) through the team's seven-game series with the Carolina Hurricanes.''
Even with the slump, Marchand has managed a strong season for Boston, following a double-hip surgery in the off-season, he�s still registered 20 goals and 43 assists across 68 games.
As read on Bruins Insider - Marchand's Current Slump Could Be Concerning.
| POLL | ||
4 AVRIL | 131 ANSWERS Brad Marchand Mired in a Near Career-Worst Slump Are you worried about Brad Marchand's current slump? | ||
| Yes | 24 | 18.3 % |
| No | 107 | 81.7 % |
| List of polls | ||
