The Boston Bruins go into Game 2 Monday night in Bean Town up 1-0 in Round 1 against the Toronto Maple Leafs. The puck drops at 7:00 pm and the vibes back in Toronto are eerily familiar. The vibes in Boston are familiar too, just less eerie unless you’re in your seventies. The Bruins have not lost to Toronto in the playoffs in your lifetime. Oh, and they’ve won a few Stanley Cups, too.
Boston Bruins Depth Shines in Game 1
In Game 1 the Boston Bruins were not as dominant as the 5-1 score would suggest, but they were opportunistic. Two of the five scores were powerplay goals. Since the powerplay was ranked middle of the league in the regular season, they’ll take it.
In the playoffs you need your stars to be stars, that is obvious. However, there are two other necessities you have to have if you’re going to make a deep run. And in Game 1, the Bruins had both of them.
Goaltending is Important
The first is goaltending. If you read my Game 1 preview, you’ll know that I don’t like the idea of having two number ones rather than knowing who your guy is. Well, after one game, who cares? Jeremy Swayman stopped 35 of 36 shots and was perfect on the penalty kill. As of Sunday night, Coach Montgomery was still undecided on who would start Game 2.
The second is depth. Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak did get three assists combined, which is good. But the story offensively was Jake DeBrusk getting two and John Beecher getting one, which happened to be the first goal of the series. I mentioned in my previous article that depth could prove to be a problem, and after Game 1, so far so good for the Boston Bruins.
Costly Mistakes Sink the Toronto Maple Leafs in Game 1
As a Toronto resident, I can tell you that the regular season has been anticlimactic since the calendar switched to 2020. Sure there’s been the Matthews chase for 50, then 60, then 70 goals. But, as far as the team itself, 100 plus points is a lock every year. Second or third in the division is a lock every year, and breaking the hearts of Leafs fans across the country is a lock. Every year.
On Saturday, they came out flying, but within three minutes, Ryan Reeves overcommitted on a check, allowing the Bruins a 2-on-1 and they scored on their first shot of the game. The second goal came after multiple attempts to clear the zone failed, and Boston capitalized.
Boston Bruins Score on Two Powerplays
The next two goals came on Boston Bruins powerplays. One penalty was a soft call, but the next was very well-deserved. Considering the Leafs’penalty kill was 23rd in the league this season, this is something to watch for in Game 2, and the rest of the series.
There were moments where the offense got it together and goalie Swayman did make some phenomenal saves. By and large though, you never felt like the Leafs were gaining any momentum. Last year, Toronto got crushed by the Lightning at home before destroying them right back in Game 2. They’ll need that turnaround on Monday night, or Toronto will be a tense city when the series moves north.
What to Expect in Game 2
There was one thing missing on the weekend that no amount of discipline or structure would change for Toronto. That thing was William Nylander, and his presence at an optional skate on Sunday, gives hope that he will be back in the lineup for Game 2.
Nylander stretches the ice very well, and he plays in every situation. Powerplay, penalty kill, and moves up and down the lineup throughout every game. He’s a necessary part of this Maple Leafs roster, and they need him back ASAP.
Physicality and grit have been something that has been lacking in past post-seasons for Toronto. It needs to be reeled in and disciplined or that below-average penalty kill will be exposed all night.
Samsonov has been confirmed to start Game 2 for the Buds, but again, as good as he’s been the last few months, he’s no Patrick Roy back there. You cannot give the Bruins as many good looks if he’s going to give you a chance to win.
As for the Boston Bruins, they have two great goalies, one of which covered up any mistakes the team made in Game 1. They’re not going to get away with that every night. Toronto has a great power play, so Boston can’t continue to average three penalties every night.
Secondary scoring was the story for Boston on Saturday and I’m not expecting Pastrnak to be goalless when they leave Boston on Wednesday.
Finishing a series has always been a problem for the boys in blue. I expect them to bounce back with a win, coming back to Toronto with the series tied.
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