Welcome to TD Garden for tonight’s do-or-die Game 7 between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Boston Bruins.
Just as many expected, here we are: TD Garden, Game 7, Bruins and Maple Leafs.
If the past two Game 7’s between these two division rivals have taught us anything, it’s that Game 7 will be one bumpy ride full of emotional turns, much drama, some lead changes, and three hours of stressful hockey for fans of both teams.
Does it get better than that?
For the Bruins to win, they’ll need to score five-on-five. For the Maple Leafs to win, they’ll need to shut down a Bruins power play that is a big part as to why there is a Game 7 this evening.
Five-on-five, the Maple Leafs have outscored the Bruins 11-8, with an expected goals for advantage of 11.83 to 10.58. Toronto also holds the edge in shots 169 to 161, and scoring chances 153-142.
On the man advantage, the Bruins power play has been lethal, while the Leafs have had issues getting pucks past Tuukka Rask when given chances on the power play.
Through six playoff games, the Bruins are 7-16 on the power play, while the Leafs have scored three times in 14 chances. On top of the difference in power play goals, the Bruins have 33 power play shots to Toronto’s 19.
If the Maple Leafs are able to win a third road game in the series, Auston Matthews will be the reason why. If the Bruins are able to win another Game 7 against the Maple Leafs, David Krejci will be the reason why.
Can’t wait till after the game to see how wrong I was about those predictions…
Warmups:
It is absolutely freezing in TD Garden right now. Hopefully the ice won't be an issue.
First period:
20:00: Leafs start the game with Zach Hyman, John Tavares, Mitch Marner, Jake Muzzin and Nikita Zaitsev. Bruins roll out Brad Marchand, Patrice Bergeron, Danton Heinen, Zdeno Chara and Charlie McAvoy.
18:10: Bruins come out buzzing with the games first four shots.
16:18: Auston Matthews left all alone in the slot, but Tuukka comes up with his first big save of the game.
13:10: Solid pace as the first TV timeout arrives. Bruins leading in shots 5-3, but are already starting to get pass happy.
11:39: Maple Leafs are finding their legs as Rask comes up with back-to-back saves on Mitch Marner.
5:31: Bruins strike first, Joakim Nordstrom trickles one through Andersen. 1-0 Bruins.
2:14: Bruins strike again. Marcus Johansson with the tally, 2-0.
0:00: Bruins will take a 2-0 lead into the second period.
Thoughts after 20:
The Bruins started the period great, let Toronto get comfortable, and then took it to them again in the final six to seven minutes of the period. Prior to goals by Nordstrom and Johnsson, Toronto was turning the pressure up in the Bruins zone forcing Rask to make some big saves.
It seems the stretch pass is something Toronto is trying to utilize tonight as they've come close to hitting several of them, resulting in more icings than we can count. The Bruins have had their fair share of icings as well.
Great to see the bottom-six bringing the offensive punch so far, but the Krejci line had a good period coming up with four scoring chances, and allowing just one. Jake DeBrusk has a team-high three shots.
The Bruins should expect a heavy push from Toronto in the second, and will need the same type of energy they started and ended the period with in the middle stanza.
Not much going on in the penalty department in the first period. Neither team was called for any penalties, and there wasn't much that I saw that I felt should have been called against either team.
Second period:
16:06: John Moore coughs up the puck and john Tavares gets the Leafs on the board. 2-1 Bruins.
12:01: Bruins have responded well after the Tavares goal. Andersen with a big stop on Brad Marchand. Bruins starting to get more second period zone time.
11:38: First penalty of the game goes to the Bruins. Carlo for a cross check.
9:38: Carlo out of the box, Bruins kill the penalty.
6:40: Both teams are turning it up here in the second. Toronto the better team in the period so far, but the Bruins are still getting their chances. Bruins need to get the next goal and slow things down a bit. Rask is seeing a lot of rubber with 24 shots by Toronto.
0:00: Bruins will take a 2-1 lead into the third period of Game 7. Get your popcorn ready and buckle in!
Thoughts after 40:
The Leafs came out exactly how you thought they would in the second period and titled the ice in their favor. The Bruins had their chances in the period, but Toronto dictated play throughout most of the frame. Toronto holds the advantage in shot attempts, 49-27 and shots on goal 25-19.
The Bruins need to be better in their own end. They're starting to turn the puck over at an alarming rate, and it's hard to ask Rask to keep this up.
Speaking of Rask, you have him to thank for why the Bruins escaped the period with a lead. The majority of the 25 shots he has seen have been challenging and they've often come in flurries. Unless the Bruins wake up in the third and manage the puck better, Rask is going to have to win Game 7 for them.
Third period:
20:00: Heinen starts with Bergeron and Marchand. Wouldn't be surprised to see Pastrnak on the wing at some point if this continues.
17:20: What work by Sean Kuraly to carry the puck into the Leafs zone and snipe one high. 3-1 Bruins.
14:41: Toronto heading back to the power play. Bench minor for too many men.
12:41: Pastrnak out of the box, Bruins kill off another one. TD Garden is rocking.
11:21: Bruins are feeling it, but a couple of nice saves from Andersen is keeping the Leafs within striking distance.
7:32: Bruins doing a good job here of keeping pucks to the outside and limiting second chances for Toronto.
3:05: Toronto pulls Andersen.
2:34: Charlie Coyle with the empty net goal, and that will do it for Game 7.
2:06: Toronto pulls Andersen once again.
0:00: Bruins win Game 7 and move onto the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Boston Bruins Blogger • 
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