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Brad Marchand couldn’t resist ‘corny’ joke at Maple Leafs’ expense after Game 7 win
"I thought you were going to take the high road?"
Brad Marchand still enjoys beating the Toronto Maple Leafs: Though the Bruins are not in the playoffs this season, Brad Marchand remains committed to keeping the Toronto Maple Leafs in check.
Marchand, 37, scored a goal and provided two assists in the Florida Panthers’ 6-1 Game 7 win over Toronto on Sunday. He became the first player in NHL history to record five Game 7 wins over one team (in this case Toronto) during his career.
“I grew up a Leafs fan. I enjoy playing against the Leafs. I enjoy interacting with fans,” he said after the game. “It’s fun. It’s not something I’ll forever get to do.”
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The entirety of Marchand’s career dominating Toronto in the playoffs prior to 2025 came with the Bruins. But when Boston — looking to rebuild the roster — traded him to Florida at the trade deadline for a conditional draft pick, the prolific forward took his talents to South Florida.
And while Marchand was sympathetic to the pressure that Maple Leafs players face, he couldn’t resist a joke. During a postgame interview with frequent media sparring partner Paul Bissonnette of “NHL on TNT,” Marchand was asked how the Panthers kept up the intensity after a strong first period.
“Yeah, we just had the belief,” Marchand quipped, hesitating momentarily to emphasize the second syllable (a not-so-subtle “Leaf” reference). The studio crew instantly picked up on Marchand’s joke.
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“I thought you were going to take the high road?” Bissonnette playfully countered, referencing Marchand’s earlier comment about not giving the TV personality too hard a time following Florida’s victory. Another analyst noted that Marchand should take a lap after such a “corny” joke (Bissonnette eventually took the lap for him).
Having advanced through multiple series in the postseason, Florida has now satisfied one of the major conditions of the draft pick terms agreed to in the trade with Boston for Marchand. So with the win, Marchand helped his team not only beat the Bruins’ longtime rival, but also got his old team one step closer to being awarded an extra first-round pick.
Trivia: Who did Brad Marchand score his first NHL playoff goal against?
(Answer at the bottom).
Hint: The fifth overall pick in the 2005 NHL Draft, he won the Vezina Trophy in 2015.
Scores and schedules:
The Red Sox lost to the Braves 10-4 on Sunday. Boston begins a three-game series against the Mets at Fenway Park this evening at 6:45 p.m.
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Brad Marchand’s Game 7 exclamation point against Toronto: Here’s the former Bruin’s empty-netter to punctuate the Panthers’ decisive series win over the Maple Leafs.
On this day: In 2008, Jon Lester threw a no-hitter in a 7-0 win over the Royals. He became the first Red Sox lefty to throw a no-hitter at Fenway Park since Mel Parnell in 1956.
Daily highlight: Jackson Chourio helped the Brewers end the Twins’ 13-game winning streak by robbing a home run in spectacular fashion.
Trivia answer: Carey Price
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