Despite logging just one assist, Marchand was a force for the Bruins all night long, as he also delivered three hits and drew two penalties in 17:59 of ice time. Marchand drew both calls in the first period -within a three-plus minute span - with the second leading to Pastrnak's opening power-play tally.
"I thought that was the best 5-on-5 game he's had all year long," said Montgomery. "He was a very determined hockey player tonight. It raises everybody's intensity level. I think that it puts the next line coming over the boards in a real good position offensively."
Marchand, who now has 19 points in 15 games this season, acknowledged it's been difficult for him to accept that his conditioning and pace is behind many of his opponents after missing all of preseason, as well as the first three weeks of the regular season, as he rehabbed from offseason hip surgery. As such, he's had to adjust a bit of his on-ice approach.
"I felt better tonight," he said. "I think it's just kind of accepting where I'm at and understanding the way I need to play, trying to play down low, behind guys, shortening up the shifts. That's one thing Monty's talked to me about is just getting back to where I normally feel I am…Just shortening up the shifts and being a little smarter about my game - because if you get extended it can affect you for 5 to 10 minutes depending on how long you're out there. So, just trying to be smarter about shift length and stuff like that."
Marchand added that a game against the defending Stanley Cup champions with the likes of Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar, and Mikko Rantanen on the either side, certainly helps get the juices flowing.
"Yeah, it definitely makes you be more prepared," said Marchand. "You have to be dialed if you play against that team and that line…every single shift they can break out and take over a game in one shift, so I thought we did a good job. They are really tough to play against and the talent on that line is insane.
"We felt good about the way we played, but they had a few big injuries for their group and that definitely affects the way their depth is. So, when those guys are back - I'm not sure if they'll be back for the next game we play them [on Wednesday in Denver] or not, but we'll get a better team out of it."