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Bruins vs Leafs

FINAL COUNTDOWN: Boston Bruins vs Toronto Maple Leafs, Game 7

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Here we are again. Game 7 in Round One of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The familiar noises and heart-attack inducing feelings are back again at home as the Boston Bruins face the Toronto Maple Leafs for the second straight season. It’s been the match-up that was foreseen as the regular season came to a close with both teams evenly matched.

SETTING THE STAGE

In an all too familiar scenario that saw the Bruins back up against the wall in a pivotal Game 6, the B’s came out fighting for their season and forced a Game 7. Toronto scored first, but soon thereafter the Bruins tied up the game and eventually took a 3-1 lead over the Leafs. Toronto’s star Auston Matthews netted a goal making it 3-2.  With Toronto threatening to even out the score, Boston defense came up huge and managed to keep the Leafs at bay.  In the final minutes of the third period and with an empty Maple Leafs net, Bruins own Brad Marchand netted his second goal of the game, making the final score 4-2.

“…When the season’s on the line, you want to play hard, you want to leave it all out there…We’re playing for our season again next game. You don’t know how it’s gonna play out, but we’ll have fun doing it.”

Bruins Brad Marchand
Bruins vs Leafs
(Photo by Michael Tureski/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

FINAL MOMENTS

As both Toronto and Boston Bruins fans gear up for the final showdown this season, the end result will come down to simply which team wants it more. With the momentum coming out from the huge win in Toronto, Boston will need to continue to get their hustle, hitting and better puck control. While the Bruins teams have won its last two Game 7 against Toronto, the past is just that: the past. Toronto is a different team as are the B’s. The Bruins team currently has players that have experience in a do-or-die situation.

“Experience matters. I think it was just the compete level. Our guys, they knew what was at stake (Game 6) if we didn’t perform. I think it showed that they were ready to play. I think we responded well after every loss in the series. That’s a testament to the guys. Going forward, experience matters…It helps me because I haven’t been around that long. Some of the players have been through it more than I have. Our veteran guys have been through it a few times. I assume they’ll draw on different experiences.”

Bruins Head Coach Bruce Cassidy

STAYING ON TOP

Fans will remember that Boston Bruins took a 3-1 series lead last season when they faced Toronto.  The Maple Leafs however came back and tied the series-forcing a Game 7 in Boston. Toronto had the lead in the third period when Boston scored four unanswered goals.  Once again, Boston will face a hungry Maple Leafs team and judging from Sundays game, the Bruins are playing back to their identity.

Bruins vs Leafs
(Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

“To me, that’s the recipe that has been successful for us most of the year, even in this playoff series. They’re a good team that doesn’t give you much. The space is very tight on the ice and when we simplify our game and bring it into their zone, that’s where you want to play obviously. I think it about doing a lot of what we did in Game 6, for sure.”

Bruins Patrice Bergeron

As of this morning, Coach Bruce Cassidy announced that there will be no changes to the line-up for tonight’s game.  As the hours count down to puck drop at 7:00pm tonight at the Garden, no matter the outcome, both Boston and Toronto will be do whatever it takes to win.

May the best team win.

Bruins vs Leafs
(Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

(Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

WHEN TO WATCH:  Tonight, with puck drop at 7:00pm, TD Garden

WHERE TO WATCH: NBCSN, NESN

Follow me on Twitter: @pastagrl88

Boston Bruins defeat Toronto Maple Leafs

David Pastrnak Scores Hat Trick; Bruins Defeat Toronto 5-1

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After a disappointing loss to Vancouver this past Thursday night, the Bruins put out all the stops last night at the TD Garden. And once again, the first-line lead the night as both Patrice Bergeron and David Pastrnak dazzled with goals and assists. The 22-year-old Pastrnak would score his third career hat trick. Bruins goaltender Jaroslav Halak also had quite the night with a stellar comeback, making an incredible 40 saves. The Bruins would give Toronto their first loss on the road in seven games. Backup goalie Garrett Sparks was in net for the Leafs.

Boston Bruins vs Toronto Maple Leafs

(Photo Credits: The Athletic)

GETTING IN THE GROOVE

In the first 15 minutes, the Toronto Maple Leafs came out blazing and put Halak to the test hitting the net with a flurry of pucks. The Leafs kept the B’s at bay, limiting them to only six shots on goal compared to Toronto’s 20 shots. The 33-year-old Halak kept his demeanor and soon enough Boston was able to find its legs.  Patrice Bergeron got the Bruins on board first when he scored off of a tip-in pass by Pastrnak at 16:12. After the first goal, there was no looking back for the B’s.  With the second period underway, the Bruins kept charging forward and David Pastrnak would score his first goal of the night at 5:46 with a Bergeron and Matt Grzelcyk assist. Toronto’s Martin Marincin got a holding penalty in the second that lead to a Boston power play goal: Pastrnak would score off a wrister with both Brad Marchand and Bergeron notching assists. However, the Maple Leafs tried to make a comeback and with a few seconds left to the second period, John Tavares would score the only goal of the night for Toronto.

Boston Bruins vs Toronto Maple Leafs

(Photo Credits: WINSLOW TOWNSON / THE ASSOCIATED PRESS)

FINAL BREAKDOWN

Heading into the third, Boston led Toronto 3-1. With about 8:32 left in the third, the Leaf’s Kasperi Kapanen would be in the penalty box, charged with a double minor for high-sticking on Bruins  John Moore. The Maple Leafs were shorthanded for four minutes and Boston took full advantage. In his second hat-trick of the season, David Pastrnak would score another power-play goal with the assist by Marchand and Torey Krug. Within seconds, Boston’s Joakim Nordstrom would score off a wrister making the final score 5-1.  As for Boston, who have been without a few key players, Providence players were called up: Dan Vlader (Goaltender) and Jakob Forsbacka Karlsson (Center). Karlsson has 11:19 minutes on ice. Pastrnak now leads the league in goals with 15; Bergeron is tied for first in the league and the team with points (24). Halak is second in the league for GAA (Goals Against Average) with a 1.86. He is also third in the league with regards to Save Percentage at .942. Toronto had 41 shots on goal, while the Bruins had 34 shots.

NEXT GAME UP

The Bruins will again be on the ice tonight at the TD Garden as they host the Las Vegas Golden Knights, who are coming off a 5-4 loss against the Montreal Canadiens last night.  For the Knights, tonight will be the last game of a four-game road trip against an Atlantic Divison team. Both Jonathan Marchessault and Max Pacioretty are players to keep an eye on. William Karlsson is also having a good start to the season as he is second behind Marchessault in team points. Vegas is seventh in their division with a 7-9-1 record, while the Bruins are fourth in their division with a 9-5-2 record.

PUCK DROP: TONIGHT at 7:00 pm, TD Garden.

WHERE TO WATCH: NESN

The Bruins Have Embarrased the Leafs so Far

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Heading into their first round matchup with the Toronto Maple Leafs, many were expecting a competitive series. Two games in, and it’s been anything but that as the Bruins hold a 2-0 series lead. In their first two matchups, the Bruins have outscored the Leafs 12-4 at TD Garden. The Bruins emasculated the Leafs in Game 2, with Pastranak going between the legs in front of the Leafs goal. Right now, the Maple Leafs are in a tight spot heading back to Toronto its do or die for them in Game 3. But let’s take a look at some of the reasons the Bruins have embarrassed the Leafs up to this point:

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Physicality

The Bruins have been men among boys against Toronto up to this point. Everyone knew that Toronto had issues on the back end coming into the series. But no one thought it would look this bad. The Bruins are doing whatever they want wherever they want on the ice right now, and Toronto cannot do anything about it. Backes and Nash in particular have been a problem down low for the Leafs, because they just cannot match that type of physically dominating player. We have seen this in both games, with both of them scoring a goal right on top of the blue paint. It’s getting to the point where the Leafs are shying away from contact. When they do decide to throw their weight around the Bruins have just bullied them. Mike Babcock needs to do something because right now. Toronto looks like a bunch of helpless kids out there.

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The First Line Matchup

The Bruins’ first line has taken one of the best players in hockey in Austin Matthews, and turned him into a scoreless almost useless player. Which should tell you how good the line of Marchand/Bergeron/Pastranak has been. “I don’t know **** happens”, is how Matthews responded when asked about the Bruins first line when they put up an insane 14 points in the Bruins 7-3 massacre of the Leafs.

The Bergeron line has put up 20 points in the first two games. Pastranak has four goals, nine points, and is the youngest player in NHL history to put up six points in a playoff game. Marchand has one goal, and five assists, while Bergeron has also put up five assists. Combined they have a +18 rating heading into Toronto. If Toronto has any chance of winning this thing they need to contain the Bergeron line, or they are going home fast.

A change of venue usually has a big effect in hockey, so do not count the Leafs out quite yet. But one thing that I did not expect to see this series is that Toronto is a soft team. While the Bruins have kept doing what they have done all year: winning.

Game One

Bruins Take Game One

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Bruins Heading Into Game One

Last night the Bruins began their playoff series with the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Black and Gold did not finish the regular season strong. However, they did not let that affect them, as they won Game One 5-1. The Bruins got goals from five different players and capitalized on their power play opportunities. The Bruins played with grit and toughness in their playoff opener. This lead to an impressive win in front of their home crowd.

Capitalizing on the Power Play

Of the five goals the Bruins scored, three of them came on the power play. The Bruins have one of the most dangerous power play units the NHL. Marchand, Pastrnak, and Bergeron showed why last night. In the first period Torey Krug found Marchand cutting to the net. Krug hit Marchand in stride and he lifted a backhander over the Maple Leafs goalie as if they had done it one hundred times before. The Bruins second power play unit was also impressive as they recorded two goals. Scoring on the power play will be key for this team as it has hard to stop, especially with Rick Nash returning to the lineup.

Game One

Photo Credit: Maddie Meyer/ Getty Images

Tuukka Rask

Last night the Bruins number one goaltender had a very good game. Of the 27 shots he faced he saved 26. That comes out to a save percentage of .963 %. This is a big postseason for Rask, and he couldn’t have done much better last night. He made key saves and tough ones in front of the net with multiple Maple Leafs picking at the puck. That is the goalie Rask will need to be for this team to make a deep run. Last night he eased any concerns that he could still be that goalie in the playoffs.

Game One

AP Photo/Mary Schwalm

Style of Play

Last night the Bruins saw the return of Sean Kuraly to the fourth line. He showed what the Bruins had been missing during his injury. In the third period he scored an incredible goal, which personified the grit and effort that made the Bruins fourth line loved during the regular season. During the third period, while in mid-air Kuraly swatted in a rebound of a shot by Pastrnak. Kuraly did not give up on the play and scored an incredibly difficult goal. This is the type of play the Bruins pride themselves on and how they will need to play to advance.

Game One

AP Photo/Elise Amendola)

Final Thoughts

This series is far from over. Game One was as good of a start as this team could have asked for. Game Two is tomorrow night at 8 PM. Don’t expect this team to let up; their playoff run is just getting started.