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Can Toronto tame the bear? Bergeron scratched; Game 4 - Leafs vs. Bruins |
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UPDATE - Per The Athletic's Fluto Shinzawa, Selke Trophy nominee Patrice Bergeron will not be in the Bruins lineup for Game 4.
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The Toronto Maple Leafs have a unique opportunity for this postseason in Game 4 on Thursday, as a victory against the Boston Bruins at Air Canada Centre would even their best-of-seven series at two games apiece and make it a best two-out-of-three.
The San Jose Sharks and Vegas Golden Knights swept their first round series over Anaheim and Los Angeles. The four teams (Pittsburgh, Tampa Bay, Nashville and Winnipeg) that led going into Game 4 all were victorious and hold commanding 3-1 series leads.
The Leafs finished the regular season winning 16 of their last 18 games at Air Canada Centre and continued that trend with a much more energetic and physical effort against Boston in Game 3 on Monday, but they will likely have to push back even harder if they are to even the series.
“Every game, (the teams) get to know each other more and know how the series is,” Leafs forward Zach Hyman said. “We expect (Boston)in Game 4 to want to respond from Game 3, but we have to elevate our game. We are the ones who are down in the series.”
Toronto held an optional skate on Thursday and injured winger Leo Komarov was one of a small group of players to take to the ice. Head coach Mike Babcock indicated after practice on Wednesday that the veteran would not play in Game 4, but his skating for the second time since being injured may be an indicator that Komarov could make a return later in the series.
With no morning skate to indicate any changes, the Leafs will likely maintain the same line combinations and defensive pairings used on Monday, with Auston Matthews playing between Zach Hyman, Tomas Plekanec centering Mitch Marner and Patrick Marleau, Tyler Bozak skating with James van Riemsdyk and Connor Brown and Dominic Moore lined up with rookies Johnsson and Kasperi Kapanen.
As the two clubs get deeper into the series, the level of familiarity and antagonism continues to rise, and the difference between winning and losing may be what team makes the fewer mistakes and also maintains their composure better.
“When you play a team over and over again, they're getting to know us better and each individual player better than you would during the year. You wouldn't get to know the players as good but when you play them night after night after night.” Babcock said. “You go through the tape, you're getting to know them pretty good. The room in the series is going to be less and less if both teams continue to compete. Often in the series what happens is one team shows they're more dominant than the other and it separates. If we do our part here tonight, it shouldn't.”
The Bruins may make one lineup change, as defenseman Matt Grzelcyk skated with teammates this morning. Head coach Bruce Cassidy indicated that the diminutive rookie should be ready to go and could replace veteran Nick Holden, but it will be a decision made after the pre-game skate.
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Toronto Maple Leafs Blogger • 
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