Seidenberg On Bruins’ Top Line: ‘They’re Just Toying With The League Right Now’

In an exclusive interview with BHN in which he reflected on his time in Boston, former Boston Bruins defenseman Dennis Seidenberg – who retired from the NHL Monday – couldn’t help but marvel at the play of Brad Marchand and Patrice Bergeron this season.

“Oh my God! They’re just toying with the league right now! It’s crazy!” Seidenberg told Boston Hockey Now. 

Along with Bruins winger David Pastrnak – who heading into NHL action Tuesday night – led the league in goals (12) and points (24) – Seidenberg’s former teammates are part of the best line in the league. Pastrnak was the NHL’s First Star two weeks ago and Marchand got the nod this past week. Marchand is riding a ten-game point streak with seven goals and 14 assists over that span, and Pastrnak has registered a point in nine straight games. Meanwhile, the heart of ‘The Perfection Line’, Bergeron notched his fifth career hat trick this past Sunday in a 7-4 win over the New York Rangers and assisted on Pastrnak’s 12th goal of the season in a 5-1 win over the San Jose Sharks Tuesday night. Bergeron now has five lamplighters and seven assists.

Seidenberg saw first hand the preparation that both Bergeron and Marchand put into each game they play and isn’t surprised with the precision that the two fellow core members of the 2011 Stanley Cup team and Pastrnak tear apart their opponents.

“I know those guys take pride in preparation and watching video together,” Seidenberg said. “They really analyze every little thing and apply it on the ice. That definitely helps them to gel on the ice. Even back when we were playing together they were that way. Just playing against them in practice on line rushes they made you always be ready and on your toes and made us better players. They’re just amazing to watch!”

Over the course of seven seasons and two runs to the Stanley Cup Final with Bergeron, Seidenberg saw first hand, the Bruins go, as Bergeron goes and that’s the case with the line that’s become known as ‘The Perfection Line’.

“Bergy and the way he played, just how reliable he is, game in and game out,” Seidenberg said. “That’s how that line goes. He does so much and means so much to them and the team.”

Seidenberg watched and cheered for the Bruins last spring when Bergeron, and his other 2011 Cup alums, Marchand, captain Zdeno Chara, center David Krejci and goalie Tuukka Rask fell one game short of hoisting their second Stanley Cup of the decade. Seidenberg was part of the 2013 Stanley Cup final team that lost in six games to the Chicago Blackhawks and while that obviously will sting forever, he compares this current Bruins team to the one that returned for the 2010-11 season after an epic collapse to the Philadelphia Flyers in the second round of the 2010 Stanley Cup playoffs. That team blew a 3-0 series lead and a 3-0 lead in Game 7 of that series and Seidenberg believes that helped the Bruins finish the job and win the Cup in 2011.

“Being up 3-0 on Philly, and in Game 7 and then losing, that definitely fueled us for the next season,” Seidenberg said. “That had everybody thinking about that feeling the next year and never wanting to feel it again. That definitely was something that helped us going forward. They need to keep that and let it motivate them. I think that’s happening with this team after last year.”