Chicago Blackhawks Eye On The Enemy: Causeway Crowd (Boston)
By Gail Kauchak
Q&A with Bruins fan Brandon Share-Cohen
When the Chicago Blackhawks played the Boston Bruins in the 2013 Stanley Cup Final, I remember Brad Marchand being nothing more than a pest and an agitator. Now he’s playing on the first line, and leads the Bruins in points. To what do you attribute his success?
BSC: Brad Marchand has always been a good player. He’s never posted under 20 goals — the exception being the lockout year when he scored 18 in an obviously shortened schedule.
While he broke out last year and played less of a “pest” role, his conscious decision to become a leader on the team last year seems to be what pegged him as more of an elite talent. He scored 21 goals in his rookie season and 28 goals in his second season, so I’d say he was always much better than “nothing more than a pest.”
On the other hand, David Pastrnak hasn’t scored in the last 15 games. How do you feel about his scoring slump?
BSC: While Pastrnak hasn’t scored in a while, he’s still producing points as of late. Additionally, he’s the third best possession player in the entire league among players who have played at least 25 games.
He bulked up since being drafted and that has helped him in terms of possession, which has in turn led to a positive output offensively. He’s a true three-zone player, and he’s still extremely young.
It’s easy to talk about all that’s good about your team. But who/what has been the most disappointing for you about the Bruins so far this season?
BSC: The defense has been “better than expected,” though it’s still not where it should be in terms of personnel. The future looks bright, however. The biggest disappointment has been the inconsistencies from game-to-game, especially when dealing with the home games.
One more player question. David Backes is a name the Chicago Blackhawks love to hate in that he was captain of the rival St. Louis Blues for many years. He now wears black and gold. What do you think about this addition?
BSC: David Backes has been exactly what he should be. He’s a leader, he’s gritty, he’s versatile and he has provided offense. The quintessential Boston Bruin.
More from Blackhawk Up
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- Blackhawks: Shuffling the lines to try and spark offense at 5 on 5
- These Lineup Changes could Solve the Blackhawks’ Scoring Problem
Where do you foresee the Bruins finishing off the season/playoffs?
BSC: They could make the playoffs; they could also narrowly miss it again. It’s going to come down to the wire as it has the last two seasons.
Let’s talk a little about tonight’s matchup. What do the Boston Bruins need to do to win this game against the Chicago Blackhawks?
BSC: To beat the Blackhawks, the Bruins will need to be smart and not take stupid penalties. The Blackhawks’ powerplay is lethal, and though the Bruins’ penalty kill is arguably the best in the league right now, it’s never a good idea to play with fire. Matching up the Patrice Bergeron line with the Artem Anisimov line whenever possible will be essential.
Brandon mentioned the Boston Bruins haven’t played well at home this season. The Chicago Blackhawks, on the other hand, have fared well on the road. He also touched on the Bergeron line probably matching up against the Anisimov line. This should be a fun battle to watch.
Thanks again to Brandon Share-Cohen of Causeway Crowd for answering our questions and telling us more about the Boston Bruins. It’s good to get some further insight into a team the Chicago Blackhawks haven’t seen yet this year. We have a 6 p.m. start tonight, so hurry home and get settled in early!
Let’s Go ’Hawks!!!