Brad Marchand has ‘found his stride' amid first-line success

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The Boston Bruins' top line didn't get off to a good start in the Boston Bruins' season opener against the Dallas Stars. But since that time, the line has been excellent. And a lot of that has to do with Brad Marchand's performance.

Marchand, the long-time Bruin, has been one of the team's best offensive players this season. He is on a four-game point streak and has generated seven total points on the season. And according to Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy, Marchand has "found his stride" to start the season.

"Well, he’s on right now," Cassidy said to reporters after the Bruins' win over the Devils. "The Dallas game, there was nowhere to go but up after that one. And he’d be the first to admit it, he didn’t play a lot of preseason. That was by design, he wanted to, he’s a competitor. But he’s found his stride now, that line seems to be clicking like we’ve seen them typically."

For context on how well Marchand is playing, he has scored four of the team's last 10 goals. Meanwhile, his linemates Patrice Bergeron and David Pastrnak have generated another three goals. Suffice to say, the Perfection Line is living up to its standards.

In addition to the line's strong offensive performance, Marchand and Bergeron have been pesky penalty killers and they were all over the ice during the team's win over the Devils. Cassidy took time to praise them for their effort in that facet of the game as well.

"I think what it does more is deflates the other team," Cassidy said of Marchand and Bergeron's skills on the penalty kill. "If that’s our power play, and I see a team doing that, frustration sets in from the coaching staff; the players on the ice are frustrated and so I think it more demoralizes the opposition than it does to lift us up. We’ve seen them go to work, so that’s the benefit of when you’re able to kill with puck possession a penalty and do it so dominantly."

The Bruins are going to need the first line to continue playing well in all facets of the game, as they are still a top-heavy team. But at least they are off to a good start this season. They are 4-1-0 and rank second in the Atlantic Division behind only the 4-0-1 Buffalo Sabres.

HAGGS: Bruins will need every bit of their great start>>>

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