The Toronto Maple Leafs defeated the Boston Bruins 2-1 on Thursday night, forcing a seventh game in the Eastern Conference first-round series. William Nylander scored twice, while Joseph Woll made 22 saves.
With a 2-1 victory in overtime in Boston on Tuesday, Toronto overturned a 3-1 series deficit and avoided elimination, sending the series back to Boston for a winner-take-all showdown on Saturday night. The Florida Panthers will play the series winner.
Both goals were assisted by Morgan Rielly.
The Bruins, who established a record during the regular season, lost in Game 7 of the playoffs after blowing a 3-1 lead against the Florida Panthers in the first round last year. Jeremy Swayman stopped 24 shots for the Bruins. With 0.1 seconds remaining, Woll’s attempt at a shutout was thwarted by Morgan Geekie.
Forward David Pastrnak was singled out by Bruins coach Jim Montgomery, who expressed his desire for his squad to perform better in the championship.
Montgomery said, “This time of year, your best players need to be your best players.” “I believe they are making a great effort, and they need to deliver some big plays at crucial times.”In the series, I believe (captain Brad) Marchand has done that. Pasta must take the lead.
Pastrnak said, “I may not have had enough shots.” Perhaps I need to adopt a somewhat more aggressive mindset. That usually helps me out.
Following his withdrawal from Game 4 due to illness, star center Auston Matthews was not available for Toronto for the second consecutive game.
With 54.8 seconds remaining in the second frame, Nylander opened the score. After receiving a feed from Timothy Liljegren in the offensive zone, the Swedish winger ducked out of his check and fired a shot that beat Swayman on the short side and bounced off Bruins defender Charlie McAvoy in front.
The score ignited raucous celebrations both inside the electrifying Scotiabank Arena and outside the ice, where Maple Leaf Square was transformed into a blue and white mosh pit.
With 2:13 remaining in the game, Nylander raced in alone after receiving a feed from Matthew Knies and slipped a backhander between Swayman’s pads to give Toronto a 2-0 lead.
Marchand said, “They’re obviously fighting for their lives, which is very desperate.” That makes it the hardest game to get every time. We are aware of it. However, I felt that this game was superior than the previous one. We would gladly have accepted it if someone had informed us at the beginning of the season that we would be playing Game 7 at home versus Toronto.
In his four career playoff starts, Woll became the only goalkeeper in NHL history to start every game in an elimination round. Only three previous goalies, Thatcher Demko (2020), Michael Hutchinson (2020), and Manny Fernandez (2003), had their first three starts occur in home games that were win-or-go.
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