Chances are good that rodents are running around the depths of Joe Louis Arena. Traps and exterminators likely keep the varmints at bay. But when the Detroit Red Wings host the Boston Bruins Thursday at 7:30 p.m. ET, two pests will be wreaking havoc on the ice and no one would want it any other way.
It will be entertaining to watch the Bruins' Brad Marchand and the Red Wings' Justin Abdelkader face off in a game that will have direct Stanley Cup playoff implications. Detroit has only a two-point lead (plus a game in hand) on Boston in the Atlantic Division. And the Bruins are three points ahead of the Ottawa Senators.
With five games remaining for them in the regular season, the Bruins want to create as much separation as possible in order to earn a postseason berth. During an uncharacteristic season for the Bruins, Marchand has been one of the few consistent players. He enters Thursday's showdown with 22 goals and 17 assists for 39 points in 72 games.
His numbers are down from a season ago, but his production, especially in the chirping column (93 PIMs), has remained constant the entire season.
A season of consistency: When the Bruins have a healthy roster, which hasn't happened too often this season, Marchand has been playing the left wing with center Patrice Bergeron. The two have been linemates since the 2011 Stanley Cup-winning season and they've built a strong chemistry. Different forwards have played the right side, but for the majority of the last two seasons Reilly Smith has been their linemate. Bergeron is considered one of the best two-way players in the game, and he expects a similar work ethic from his linemates.
"He's been great," Bergeron told ESPN.com, referring to Marchand. "He's always such a great help for me having him on my side, making plays and making things happen on the ice with his speed and his willingness to go to the areas to get the puck back. We read off each other really well. He's been great and I can't say enough about the way he's been playing."
Since they've established a strong bond on the ice, Marchand and Bergeron are able to read off one another, which is a big reason for the team's success.
"Consistency-wise, he's really improved in that," Bergeron said. "He's always shown up every night and has taken any role he's been given. He takes a lot of pride in playing with me against top lines, and on the PK. He's really improved as a player overall."
The one aspect of his game that hasn't changed is his ability to get under the skin of opponents. Marchand's not afraid to mix it up, but he's also known for his ability to take a dive at times. When he's playing that style of game, the Bruins normally have success.
The Little Ball of Hate: Now 26 years old and generously listed at 5-foot-9, 183-pounds, this diminutive, motor-mouthed forward has always played with a chip on his shoulder. Buffalo Sabres coach Ted Nolan coached Marchand when he played for the Moncton Wildcats of the QMJHL. Nolan has always been impressed with Marchand's competition level and work ethic. But it took a little bit of motivation and work to get there.
"He worked so hard you had to drag him off the ice," Nolan told ESPN.com.
"Brad's always been one of my favorites. When I coached him in Moncton, Brad and I had some strong disagreements on his play and on his consistency. I sat him out a few times and he didn't like it, but I think it's one of the reasons why he's playing the way he's playing now. He's a very consistent player and he's one of those guys you love to have on your team and you hate to play against him.
"He's a competitor. When you talk about all the analytics and puck possession and what have you, one of the things we should try to figure out is how to get that character type of player as Brad is. He's a very character type of guy. He competes hard, brings energy and he's just one of those guys you love to have on your team."
The Bruins selected Marchand in the third round (71st overall) in the 2006 draft and he made his pro debut with the Providence Bruins of the AHL in 2008-09. The next season, he split time between Boston and Providence. Marchand became a full-time NHLer at the start of the 2010-11 season and was an integral part of the Bruins' Stanley Cup championship team. In Game 7 against the Vancouver Canucks, Marchand had two goals and one assist to help Boston to a 4-0 victory.
When the Bruins visited the White House the following January, President Obama dubbed Marchand the "Little Ball of Hate."
Abby's breakout: Until this season, the most goals Abdelkader, a former Michigan State Spartan, had scored in a season was 10. In fact, his 23 goals this season are more than he scored in the previous two seasons combined.
He's been assisted in part by a shooting percentage that is a career-high 15.3, nearly double his career average of 8.4. He also has benefited from playing a healthy chunk of his even-strength ice time with Henrik Zetterberg. But make no mistake, Abdelkader has capitalized. He's finishing his chances and is one of four Red Wings to hit double digits in even-strength goals, with 13.
He plays physical, he goes to the hard areas on the ice and has earned the trust of coach Mike Babcock, averaging a career-high 17:55 of ice time per game.
"Abby is the kind of guy who has been doing it this way for a long time. He's stuck with it, stuck with it, stuck with it," teammate Darren Helm told ESPN.com. "He doesn't say much, he just goes about his business. Now, it's finally paying off for him. It's great to see the hard work pay off for him on and off the ice."
Differing styles: Marchand is unpopular in opposing buildings because he does anything in his power to get under the skin of players on the home team. Abdelkader's physical play and relentless attitude have helped fuel his unpopularity among opposing fan bases, the latest being Tampa Bay Lightning fans after a borderline hit on Jason Garrison.
"I've always been a player who has been hard to play against," Abdelkader told ESPN.com. "I finish checks. I play hard. I go to the difficult areas. Obviously you're going to stir things up and create havoc. That's how I've played my whole career."
For his part, Lightning coach Jon Cooper was diplomatic about the hit.
"Abby is an honest player. He's an honest player. He plays the game hard. Because he plays the game hard, he's going to find himself in situations like that," Cooper said during a recent media scrum. "I'm sure he didn't mean to do it. It was a tough spot to hit him."
Abdelkader plays a different style than Marchand, who will use everything in his arsenal to try to throw an opponent off their game.
"He talks more, he yaps more," Abdelkader said. "I pride myself in going out and playing hard. If that stuff comes, it comes. More of his game is to get that going right off the bat and try to get under guys' skin."
So how does Abdelkader respond to Marchand's style of play?
"It doesn't affect me," he said. "It's kind of funny. You know how Marchand plays, especially when the playoffs come. He gets that little extra edge. Guys enjoy it. Guys know how he plays. I don't know if it gets guys off their games, it gets you more engaged than anything."
Prediction: During Boston's recent three-game winning streak, Marchand has been playing with Bergeron and David Krejci. However, Bruins coach Claude Julien will likely tweak his lineup against the Red Wings and Krejci will return to center. Marchand and Bergeron will remain together, and no matter which player is on the right side, expect that line to shut down Detroit's top two lines. The Bruins are 3-1-0 against the Red Wings this season and that trend will continue Thursday with Marchand leading the way.