Love him or hate him, you can’t deny that Brad Marchand is having an eventful NHL season. The former Boston Bruins captain had the odds stacked against him after a late-season trade to the Florida Panthers. Instead, the 37-year-old’s aggressive style of play matched perfectly with the Panthers. And after becoming the first NHL player to win five winner-take-all games against the same team (Toronto Maple Leafs), the veteran found himself in the center of action again after earning an ejection in Game 1 against the Hurricanes.

And in a perfect example of things lining up just right, The Players’ Tribune posted an article that Marchand wrote in 2018. In that article, the veteran penned an incident involving his brother and father that changed how he looked at hockey. And wouldn’t you know it? Few things could’ve provided more context for why the hockey forward loses his cool so often, like he did with Canes defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere.

How one incident shaped Brad Marchand’s play style

Recounting his memories of progressing through the ranks in junior hockey, Marchand revealed the moment that changed his trajectory forever. “We were playing against our rivals, Cole Harbor, in some important game, and they had this monster forward on their team who always killed us,” wrote Marchand. It was that player who took a run at Marchand’s little brother, Jeff.

“He smoked him,” recalled the NHL veteran. While Brand Marchand, his brother, and cousins never shied away from a brotherly brawl as kids, they had their backs when someone else did it. “It was like a red light went off inside me,” wrote Brad Marchand. However, this wasn’t the NHL veteran that fans have come to know. As angry as he was, the youngster didn’t lash out at the player. That’s when his father intervened.

“My dad was one of our coaches, and he tapped me and my three buddies on the shoulder and said, ‘Next shift, I want every one of you to take a run at that kid every time he touches the puck,'” recounted the NHL star. They listened, and the opposing player got so frustrated he committed another penalty. Marchand’s team earned the power and scored the winning goal. And that’s when it hit him.

The young Brad Marchand admitted that he wasn’t the best player among his friends, but that moment gave him an idea. “OK … if I have a 0.01% chance, this might be one way of getting people to notice me,” explained the Florida Panthers star. That incident became the catalyst that shaped the former Bruins captain’s entire play style.

Over the years, Marchand perfected his aggressive, physical style of hockey. So much so that he made it into the NHL. “I have done things that have stepped over that line, and I’ve paid the price for it… But I’ve always felt like you have to be willing to do anything — literally anything — in order to win.” Marchand added. It’s safe to say this mentality of the Stanley Cup Champion remains intact. Especially after what transpired with Gostisbehere.

Tempers flared in Game 1

The Florida Panthers and the Carolina Hurricanes are among the final four teams left in the 2025 Stanley Cup chase. So it’s natural that tensions were high at the PNC Arena in Raleigh. Both teams had everything to lose, and the Panthers proved more tenacious on the day. While Carolina had their chances, the Cats capitalized on theirs. Brad Marchand and Co. were in a 4-1 lead when things escalated.

Marchand took a run at Shayne Gostisbehere, who dodged most of it. However, the Carolina Hurricanes defenseman was not in the mood to let it slide. Just moments after Marchand’s attempt, the defenseman shot the puck at the Panther. He ripped it at close range as the former Bruin turned away from the puck coming his way. While the puck hit him and deflected, Marchand snapped.

The IIHF World Championship winner charged Gostisbehere. A fight ensued, which ended with the Panthers’ forward taking the defenseman down. Brad Marchand also earned the lion’s share of the penalties. With less than 12 minutes left in the third period, the officials handed Marchand a 10-minute misconduct and an additional 4 minutes for roughing, resulting in his ejection.

While the hockey veteran seemed furious at the decision, he didn’t speak of it after the game. Thankfully, Gostisbehere provided some clarity and didn’t blame his opponent. “I was heated. Pretty pissed off. He tried to take a run at me; I shot the puck at him. It is what it is. Had a little tussle,” the Canes star said, as per The Hockey News’ Ryan Henkel. That being said, it might be safe to assume that this series hasn’t seen its last big hit just yet.