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Brad Marchand Is Bobby Orr (Just Kidding, But Check Out This Ridiculous End-To-End Goal)

By Matt Dolloff, CBS Boston

BOSTON (CBS) -- Remember when Felger snidely declared "[Torey] Krug is Bobby Orr" just to troll Bruins die-hards? No? Well, he said it. Obvious troll-job. But Thursday night against the Buffalo Sabres, the Bruins' Brad Marchand did the best Bobby Orr impression in some time.

Down 2-1 early in the third period, Marchand circled backward into the Bruins' defensive zone as the Sabres' power play ended, then caught them changing lines as he burst right through the neutral zone to the Buffalo end. He then dangled around Sabres defenseman Zach Bogosian and backhanded the puck past former Bruins goalie Chad Johnson to tie the game.

Those who watched Orr growing up - or youngins' like myself, who weren't so lucky but have seen plenty of highlights - immediately conjured images of No. 4 as soon as Marchand circled back. Orr changed hockey forever with his ability to routinely play strong defense while also leading rushes with the puck and scoring as much, or more, points than the best forwards in the league. Like any singular, transcendent talent can do, he changed the pace of games all by himself when he stepped on the ice. (UPDATE: Since people like to have opinions on articles without reading them, I must clarify that Marchand is, in fact, not Bobby Orr. Nobody is. He's not even close to being not even close. This was just a cool goal.)

It obviously makes more sense for a winger to pull off an end-to-end rush for a goal, but it's impossible to look at this kind of play, from Marchand or anyone else, and not think of Orr's massive influence on the game.

Bobby Orr - Hockey's Masterpiece by 85highlander on YouTube

(Sorry for the Creed in the background.)

Mike Hurley and some other fans took notice on Twitter.

Marchand may not be Bobby Orr, but he certainly channeled him for a moment.

UPDATE: I can't believe I even need to say this. I shouldn't have to say this. Obviously, Brad Marchand is not the player Bobby Orr was. Nor is he the person Bobby Orr is. He just made a cool play that amusingly reminded me (AND some other people) of Orr. Never thought anyone would take an obvious exaggeration as a literal comparison...

Matt Dolloff is a writer for CBSBostonSports.com. His opinions do not necessarily reflect that of CBS or 98.5 The Sports Hub. Follow him on Twitter @mattdolloff and email him at mdolloff@985thesportshub.com.

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