The game on Saturday between the Boston Bruins and the Montreal Canadiens turned into a memorable evening, packed with special tributes and exceptional performances. The night kicked off with the Bruins paying homage to their 1987-88 squad, which famously broke a 45-year playoff losing streak to the Canadiens, setting a promising start to the evening.
In an impressive 9-4 triumph against their arch-rivals, the Bruins secured not just a victory but also moved within a point of the NHL lead, closely trailing the Vancouver Canucks. During this victorious moment, the Bruins took time to specially recognize Brad Marchand for reaching an important career milestone in the game.
For Marchand, the night was marked by a significant two-point performance, punctuated by scoring his 20th goal of the 2023-24 season. This milestone elevated Marchand to a unique status, surpassing Bruins legends Johnny Bucyk and his regular linemate Patrice Bergeron.
Both Bucyk and Bergeron had achieved the mark of ten consecutive seasons scoring at least 20 goals for the Bruins. With his goal on Saturday, Marchand notched his 11th consecutive season of reaching this mark and his 13th season in total.
Significantly, had it not been for the abbreviated 2012-13 season due to a lockout, Marchand would be celebrating an incredible streak of 14 consecutive seasons. In that shortened season, he came close, scoring 18 goals in just 45 games, only two goals shy of the mark. This context further elevates the importance of Marchand's accomplishment, adding to the historic significance of the evening for the Boston Bruins.
