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Marchand's versatility on display during goal-scoring surge

Winslow Townson / USA TODAY Sports

Brad Marchand has emerged as one of the game's top talents over the past two seasons, posting career-best numbers in 2015-16 and arguably finding an even more dangerous gear this year.

But a closer look at the Boston Bruins winger's performance over the past month suggests he might just be one of the most versatile scorers in the league.

Marchand has set himself apart on the scoresheet over the past month, racking up a league-leading 13 goals and 23 points in just 14 games. This offensive outburst helped him climb into the top tier of league scorers, with the gifted agitator now tied for the seventh-most goals in the NHL, and the fourth-most points.

But Marchand's 2016-17 effort is far more impressive than the numbers might initially suggest.

The 13 goals he's put up over the last month have been spread fairly equally in terms of strength, as Marchand posted six of them at even strength, four on the power play, and three short-handed.

The near goal-per-game pace is already impressive, but the fact that Marchand has been doing it every which way has been the true game-changer. And his competition hasn't matched him in this regard.

Winnipeg Jets pivot Mark Scheifele and San Jose Sharks veteran Patrick Marleau each have nine goals over the past month, with all but two coming at even strength. Calgary Flames winger Sean Monahan and New York Islanders captain John Tavares posted nine as well, both posting six during five-on-five play.

Expanded past the last month to 2016-17 as a whole, Marchand still comes out on top on the versatility front.

Compared to the rest of the top 15 goal-scorers in the league, Marchand has relied far less on any one game situation. He ranks in the middle of the pack in terms of even-strength tallies (14) and power-play goals (six), while his three short-handed markers are tied for most in the league.

The actual manner in which he's finding the net is just as unconventional as the situations in which he's scoring.

While the majority of the rest of the game's top snipers are beating netminders primarily with wrist shots, Marchand has nearly as many backhand goals as he does wristers.

His seven tallies off the backhand are the most league wide, and just a handful below his 10 wrist shot goals. He's added one via deflection and five off snap shots as well.

Marchand isn't taking Sidney Crosby's crown as the league's most versatile offensive force, but it's clear the Bruins' star is cut from the same cloth as his fellow Nova Scotian.

That's excellent news for Boston, as its 23rd-ranked offense is clearly in need of all the help it can get as it struggles to hold on to a playoff spot.

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