Coming off the high of an absolutely electric win over the Maple Leafs on Saturday night, Sunday against the Blue Jackets always had the potential to be a ‘letdown’ game of sorts for the Bruins.

And through 40 minutes, it appeared as if that may indeed be the case.

Not only were the Bruins continuing to find themselves absolutely stymied by the Blue Jackets’ Spencer Martin (less than a week removed from a 31-of-33 win over the Bruins), but a last-minute Boone Jenner goal scored in the middle frame put the Bruins in an 0-1 hole at the second intermission.

• But with his team needing a spark, Bruins captain Brad Marchand decided to bring a damn barrel of dynamite to TD Garden for the third period, with a natural hat trick that powered the Bruins to a 3-1victory over the Blue Jackets.

  It was Marchand’s second heroic run in as many nights, as the winger also scored the game-winning goal in Boston’s overtime win over the Maple Leafs the night before.

  In desperate need of finding an opening on Martin, Marchand and the Bruins finally found it at the 1:56 mark of the third period, as Marchand received a slick dish from Danton Heinen and beat Martin for Boston’s first goal of the evening, and on their first shot of the period.

• Danton Heinen feeds the puck to Brad Marchand, who scores for the second straight game.
  
  1-1 game. pic.twitter.com/RUbyCA2CT6

  — Conor Ryan (@ConorRyan_93) December 4, 2023

  The assist for Heinen was good for his seventh point in his last 10 games dating back to Nov. 14 against Buffalo, and put him at eight points through 16 total appearances this season.

  And with the Bruins on the power play after a Dmitri Voronkov tripping penalty, Marchand went back to work and put the Bruins ahead for the first time all night with a wrister from distance that beat Martin.

  Brad Marchand rips home his second of the game to give the Bruins a 2-1 lead pic.twitter.com/72Ut1RFIyd

  — Spoked Z (@SpokedZ) December 4, 2023

• And from there, Marchand would not be denied.

  He put the Bruins right back on the power play just moments later when he carried the puck on his own in a one-on-two battle and drew a trip on Columbus winger Johnny Gaudreau.

  And half a minute later, it was raining hats at TD Garden behind Marchand’s third goal of the night.

• NATURAL HAT TRICK! 🚨
  
  It took just 5:50 for Brad Marchand to record these three goals!
  
  Hat Trick Challenge presented by @AstraZenecaUS pic.twitter.com/vumC9STgpp

  — NHL (@NHL) December 4, 2023

• According to the NHL, Marchand’s three goals in 5:50 was the third-fastest stretch of three goals by one player to begin a period in team history. Marchand’s three in 5:50 trails only Leo Labine’s three in 7:01 on Nov. 28, 1954 and Bobby Bauer’s three in 7:30 on Nov. 20, 1946.

  Behind Marchand, the Bruins were led by Jeremy Swayman and his 24-of-25 performance in goal.

  Swayman has now stopped 50 of the 51 shots thrown his way since Bruins head coach Jim Montgomery gave him an early hook from the team’s ugly-looking loss to the Blue Jackets last week. Whatever button Montgomery wanted to push when he made that switch may not have worked for his team that night, but it certainly appears to have worked for Swayman, who is back to looking like a supremely in control goaltender in every respect.

• 

  Dec 3, 2023; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Bruins defenseman Hampus Lindholm (27) controls the puck while Columbus Blue Jackets center Kent Johnson (91) defends during the first period at TD Garden. (Bob DeChiara/USA TODAY Sports)

  After wrapping up a three games in four days stretch, the Bruins will get an extended break of sorts, as the team will not return to game action until Thursday night when they welcome the Sabres to Boston.

  The Bruins defeated Buffalo by a 5-2 final back on Nov. 14.

• (Subscribe to the Sports Hub Underground podcast.)

  We are back on the Sports Hub Underground podcast, and we’ve got plenty to get to after three weeks away, with a lot of things happening on and off the ice for the Boston Bruins.

  ---

  Full Rundown…

  (0:50) Opening banter on cereal, fast food, and NHL hockey.

  (16:47) Jumping around on the biggest talking points around the Boston Bruins, particularly their recent slump.

  (30:47) The guys are getting sick of the Bruins’ lack of standing up for each other when their teammates are being targeted.

  (49:10) Circling back on the Bruins’ goaltenders and their recent performance, especially since all the trade debates.

  (1:05:14) Mason Lohrei has been sent down to Providence, and the guys discuss the reasons behind it.

  (1:20:45) Is Bruins head coach Jim Montgomery tinkering with his lineups too much?

  (1:32:28) The guys draft their “Big 3” pieces of Christmas entertainment.

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