Final: Maple Leafs 3, Bruins 1 -- Andersen, Toronto push series to limit taken at Air Canada Centre (2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs)

(Barry Chin/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)

2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs

Final: Maple Leafs 3, Bruins 1 -- Andersen, Toronto push series to limit

By Joe McDonald

Apr 23, 2018 • 6:31 pm

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TORONTO -- The Maple Leafs stave off elimination for the second consecutive game with a 2-1 victory over the Bruins Monday night at Air Canada Centre and force the decisive Game 7.

Maple Leafs goaltender Freddie Andersen stifled the Bruins – again – and the teams will play Wednesday night at TD Garden to decide who will play the Tampa Bay Lightning in the second round.

Pregame notes

Scoring first has proved crucial in this series between the Bruins and the Maple Leafs. The team to get on the board first has won each time and it's not a coincidence. Toronto coach Mike Babcock has discussed the importance of drawing first blood time and again and it was no different the morning of Game 6 at Air Canada Centre.

"I think just getting start on time and you can be above the puck and you don't have to chase it and you don't feel like you have to chase it and make poor decisions," he said. "Obviously, it has worked better for us when we're ahead. I didn't think when we got behind in our building in Game 4, I didn't think it affected us. I thought we responded right away. But, then when we got behind a second time, they scored right at the end of the second and right at the end of the third, we had no pushback. Obviously, it's important tonight to start on time and being ready to go."



Bruce Cassidy concurs with that mindset, but the Bruins focus will be to shut down the neutral zone on the Maple Leafs. That was an issue for Boston in Game 5. It also had nothing to do with Toronto's ability to stretch pass, it was more of the defensive gaps by the Bruins D-men.

If Boston has those breakdowns, goalie Tuukka Rask has to be better than he was in Game 5. His teammates are not worried about their netminder.

“He’s so even keel that from game to game you wouldn’t know what the result was, or whether he stood on his head, or what the case might be, so that’s one of his strong qualities,” said defenseman Adam McQuaid. “We have that confidence in him and it allows you just to worry about yourself. You know he’s going to be alright, so everyone can do their thing and make sure they’re ready.”

After the optional skate this morning, Cassidy said he was thinking about tweaking the lineup. Based on pregame warmups, Danton Heinen will be a healthy scratch and Tommy Wingels will be in the lineup. He's playing the right side with David Krejci in the middle and Jake DeBrusk on the left. The third line is a heavy tonight with Rick Nash, Riley Nash and David Backes. I'm a fan of this line. I also have no issue with Wingels playing over rookie Ryan Donato. Wingels has Stanley Cup finals experience and the Bruins need that right now.

Observations from the first period


  • Solid first shift by the Nash-Nash-Backes line. 61Nash engaged from the start. Needed a wake-up call.

  • Faceoffs will be a key to focus on tonight.

  • There's a fine line in the playoffs when making the decision to play the puck or the body. Kevan Miller just proved it.

  • Physicality not an issue for the Bruins early on. It never is with this team.

  • Fourth line doing its thing.

  • Bruins getting chances. Now, just gotta finish.

  • Krejci taking a D-zone faceoff with Schaller and Acciari.

  • DeBrusk whistled for delay of game after a tough turnover and he attempts to clear the puck, but it sails into the seats. Maple Leafs getting the first PP of the game.

  • Most players would have launched their bodies at that loose puck, but Riley Nash stays on his feet and makes a good on the PK.

  • Huge play by Rask to play that puck behind the net and stifle the Toronto forecheck. He'll be doing plenty of that tonight.

  • Huge play by Morgan Rielly to keep that puck out of the net.


Observations from the second period


  • Rare D-zone turnover for Bergeron to start the period. Of course, he regroups and fixes the miscue.

  • DeBrusk scores to make it 1-0. He told me after Game 5 that he would score tonight and he makes good on that.





  • Just like that the Maple Leafs come back when William Nylander drives home the rebound only 35 seconds later. McAvoy on the missed coverage.





  • Plenty of scoring to start the period as the Maple Leafs Zach Hyman, from his backside, knocks it in for a 2-1 lead.





  • Cassidy challenging goalie interference. This might get called back.

  • Call on the ice is reversed -- no goal.

  • The way the ref began to word the decision, every Leaf fan in the building thought it was going to be a goal. Actually kind of funny.

  • Rick Nash making things happen. He's been getting his chances.

  • Bergeron has been getting gassed at the end of shifts. Spoke with him briefly this morning and he seemed like he had a cold.

  • Cassidy made an adjustment with the Nash line having the F3 higher in the slot.

  • Bruins owning the offensive zone on the last few shifts. Freddie Andersen coming up with timely saves -- again.

  • DeBrusk chirping with Polak. The rookie's playing with confidence tonight.

  • Backhander is the toughest shot to stop for a goalie. Mitch Marner gives Toronto a 2-1 lead with 6:35 remaining in the period. Krug was caught out of position because he thought Marchand gained possession.

  • Miller gets two for roughing. That's unlike him.

  • Bruins kill it off.

  • To end the period, Cassidy goes back with DeBrusk, Krejci and Rick Nash.

  • Cassidy doing everything to get Nash going.

  • So, it's Schaller, Nash and Backes.

  • Now Kadri gets a slashing penalty with 9.6 seconds remaining in the period.


Observations from the third period


  • The Bruins begin the third period with 1:51 remaining on the power play.

  • This game smells like OT.

  • Terrible PP for the Bruins.

  • Maple Leafs were getting a power play before Polak jumped Backes.

  • Toronto is trying to give its lead away.

  • McAvoy is struggling. Now he gets a tripping penalty. Toronto will have a 4-on-3 for 37 seconds.

  • Big save by Rask on Matthews from the off-post.

  • Bruins kill it off.

  • Boston's typical late push should begin right now with 13:56 remaining in regulation and down a goal.

  • Just figured it out. Miller's "art" of taking the body instead of the puck at the O-zone blue line turns into an icing. Smart play.

  • Strong save by Rask through traffic.

  • Plekanec doing a good job on Bergeron.

  • Now the Bruins get a bit of puck luck with the Maple Leafs getting a delay-of-game penalty with 5:43 remaining in regulation.

  • Maple Leafs kill it off.

  • Empty-netter for the Maple Leafs. Should've been interference but no call on Backes.


Here are the Bruins' projected line combinations and defensive pairings vs. the Maple Leafs


Forwards










Defense








Goalies




Here are the Maple Leafs' projected line combinations and defensive pairings.


Forwards










Defense








Goalies


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