TORONTO -- Nothing beats a Game 7 in the Stanley Cup playoffs. That's what will happen at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday night at TD Garden. It will be the Boston Bruins vs. the Toronto Maple Leafs for the chance to advance and face the Tampa Bay Lightning in the second round.
The Bruins held a 3-1 series lead until the Maple Leafs won the last two games, including a 3-1 win in Game 6 Monday night at Air Canada Centre. And, for the second consecutive game, Toronto goalie Freddie Andersen was the difference and he finished with 32 saves.
"If anybody would have told us at the start of the year that we're going to be in Game 7 in the first round at home, we'd take it," said Bruins' Brad Marchand. "It's tough given the position we're in, but we're going to look forward to the next game and it's all we can control. Whatever has happened the last six games really doesn't mean anything. We're both fighting for our lives next game, so it's going to be a lot of fun. It's going to be a big challenge. They're a great team. They've played really well this series and every game has been very tight, so it's going to be fun. We're looking forward to it."
Everything else you need to know from the Bruins' loss in quickie form and with BSJ analysis.
HEADLINES
Tweaking: After the team's optional morning skate, Bruce Cassidy said he was considering making some changes to the forward lines in order to generate more offense, while keeping the defensive game balanced. So, the coach moved Rick Nash from the second line to the third line with Riley Nash and David Backes. As a result, Danton Heinen was out of the lineup and Tommy Wingels was inserted on David Krejci's line with Jake DeBrusk. Rick Nash was getting some chances, but he just couldn't finish.
"Rick seems to get more of his chances on the left wing. I still think Krejci and DeBrusk have good chemistry, so Tommy's a little more of a heavier presence going to the net and he adds come of that and has been a good player for us," explained Cassidy. "We tried to balance out the lines. Our third line was getting stagnate. I thought they played ok, but they weren't generating offense and all of a sudden Toronto has four balanced lines, so you try to match up a little bit better."
DeBrusk, who scored his third goal of this series, gave his assessment of the change.
"Tommy brings different elements and we're just trying to get chemistry as fast as possible," DeBrusk said. "Tommy's a hard worker. He's hard on pucks and he's got a wicked shot and he'll go to the net."
Victory among tragedy: When tragedy strikes like it did in Toronto Monday afternoon, teams have a way of rallying to help the wounded community. Maple Leafs players were focused on winning this game to begin with, but it used a little more motivation to give the fans, and people of Toronto, something to smile about.
"Very tragic event," Marchand said. "Our thoughts and prayers go out to all the families and everyone involved. It's incredible the way you see cities come together when things like this happen. It was another great example of that here in Toronto. A lot of respect for the people of Toronto and the way they're handling it."
TURNING POINT
Quick strike: Prior to Game 6, the team that scored the first goal in the previous five games eventually earned the victory. That wasn't the case in this one. After a scoreless first period, DeBrusk scored at 1:02 of the second to give Boston a 1-0 lead. However, the Maple Leafs wasted zero time responding when William Nylander scored only 35 seconds later to tie the game at 1-1. It was a huge momentum swing in Toronto's favor.
"They just kept coming," Marchand said. "They're a good team. They're going to be resilient. They have been all year, so you've got to give them a lot of credit."
WILLIAM NYLANDER POTS A REBOUND TO TIE IT UP!#TMLTalk 1 - 1 #NHLBruins
(@NHLBruins Lead Series 3-2) pic.twitter.com/u2NJMEYb11
— NHL Daily 365 (@NHLDaily365) April 24, 2018
MITCH MARNER SPINS AND BACKHANDS ONE HOME! LEAFS LEAD!#TMLTalk 2 - 1 #NHLBruins
(@NHLBruins Lead Series 3-2) pic.twitter.com/aUGU04VeZN
— NHL Daily 365 (@NHLDaily365) April 24, 2018
JAKE DEBRUSK THROUGH TRAFFIC! BRUINS LEAD EARLY!#TMLTalk 0 - 1 #NHLBruins
(@NHLBruins Lead Series 3-2) pic.twitter.com/xi2puzpHaV
— NHL Daily 365 (@NHLDaily365) April 24, 2018