NHL Notebook: Marchand proving of late his combustible nature benefits the B's

The duality of Brad Marchand's game showed itself during the Bruins' 5-2 win against the Kings on Thursday night.

A non-tripping call on the veteran winger early in the second period prompted a fiery response that resulted in penalty minutes and a shattered stick.

The B's aren't strangers to seeing the emotions get the best of No. 63. Just last season, Marchand was assessed a six-game suspension after losing his temper toward Penguins goalie Tristan Jarry by punching and spearing the netminder after the whistle. The act thrust Marchand into infamy as the most suspended player in NHL history.

Yet, against the Kings, the Halifax, Nova Scotia native exemplified why that passion can also be steered to positive results. Minutes after exiting the penalty box, Marchand scored to put the B's ahead and in turn, flipped the switch that propelled the Bruins to the win.

There's no question that Marchand has always struggled when it comes to maintaining his composure, but the 34-year-old is much better at translating those feelings to points on the scoresheet and as Thursday signified, the Bruins are a better team when Marchand is emotionally involved.

Marchand concluded the game with a goal and assist.

During the Winter Classic, Marchand was not pleased when a potential 2-on-1 was blown dead by a linesman, negating a golden chance for the B's to get on the board.

Once again, Marchand used the tough luck and turned it into the first of two goals from Jake DeBrusk with the primary assist on the equalizer during the third period.

The numbers back up Marchand's improved play during these recent outbursts as the 5-foot-9, 176-pounder is the only Bruin riding a point streak ahead of their contest with the Sharks. Two goals and four assists over his past four games indicate Marchand is beginning to heat up.

The first-liner began the 2022-23 season with four goals in his first five games, but followed it up with five through his next 23. Marchand has since scored in two of the last three games and could be on the brink for more.

James Reimer will likely start in goal for the Sharks on Saturday after Kaapo Kahkonen manned the net in the loss on Friday and no other current Bruins player has had more success against Reimer than Marchand.

In 24 career games against the former Maple Leafs goaltender, Marchand has rifled in 10 goals and 51 shots. Patrice Bergeron is next with eight goals, however every other current Bruins has half as many goals or less compared to Marchand.

January marks the first month this season the Bruins will be on the road (nine games) more than at home (five games). Add in the fact that DeBrusk will be out of the lineup for four weeks and the B's will rely on Marchand, among others, to lead them through this character-building stretch.

Basically, expect more of the Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde act from Marchand for the next little while.