Final: Bruins 7, Maple Leafs 4 -- Four-goal 3rd propels B's taken at TD Garden (2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs)

(Adam Richins for BSJ)

2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs

Final: Bruins 7, Maple Leafs 4 -- Four-goal 3rd propels B's

By Joe McDonald

Apr 25, 2018 • 12:53 pm

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Like they’ve done so many times this season, the Boston Bruins mounted a third-period comeback en route to victory. Only this time it wasn’t an ordinary regular-season game. This 7-4 victory, keyed by four goals in the third period, over the Toronto Maple Leafs means a trip to the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs and a matchup against the Tampa Bay Lightning.


Observations from the first period


  • Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy has been named a finalist for the Jack Adams Award, joining Vegas' Gerard Gallant and Avalanche's Jared Bednar.

  • Like the decision by Cassidy to start the fourth line. Expect a big hit immediately from Noel Acciari.

  • Sean Kuraly with a tripping penalty 30 seconds into the game. Toronto on the PP. Wow.

  • Solid shorthanded bid by Brad Marchand. Freddie Andersen with the save but Boston gets an O-zone faceoff.

  • Nice play by Riley Nash on the PK to draw the Maple Leafs offside.

  • Zdeno Chara can't clear the puck at the defensive blue line as the Maple Leafs can control and gain entry and finish with a power-play goal for a 1-0 lead.





  • Patrice Bergeron's forecheck forces the Maple Leafs to quickly clear the puck and send it into the seats for a delay of game. Boston on the PP and a chance for the equalizer.

  • Torey Krug's shot nearly trickles through but Andersen reaches back and snares it before it closes the line.




  • Outstanding play by David Pastrnak to feed Jake DeBrusk for the power-play goal to tie it at 1-1.





  • Fantastic puck movement by the Maple Leafs after a Krug D-zone turnover and Toronto has a 2-1 lead.





  • A pair of turnovers by the Bruins and the Maple Leafs have capitalized on both.

  • Danton Heinen. Cassidy told him to shoot the puck and he does and he scores to tie it at 2-2.





  • Morgan Rielly takes a puck off the face and is bleeding all over the ice. It was a Chara shot but fortunately, the puck was knuckling.

  • Bruins kill off the Rick Nash penalty.

  • Heinen playing with confidence now.

  • Kevan Miller shoots the puck intentionally wide, bounces off the end wall and Patrice Bergeron is on the off post to pump it in to give the Bruins a 3-2 lead with 36.4 seconds remaining in the period.





  • In the closing seconds, Marchand nearly weaves his way through everyone the building and nearly slides one in before the buzzer.

  • That's entertainment at its finest. Wow what a period.


Observations from the second period


  • Bruins doing a good job getting traffic in front of Andersen.

  • Boston's top line caught at the end of a long shift and the Maple Leafs tie it at 3-3.





  • DeBrusk is dialed in -- big time.

  • Marchand draws a penalty and then points to the Maple Leafs bench. I feel a power-play goal coming for Boston.

  • Maybe not. After an incredible save by Andersen on Drug, the Maple Leafs score a shorthanded goal at the other end to take a 4-3 lead.





  • Outstanding backcheck by Adam McQuaid to break up a scoring chance for Zach Hyman. However, McQuaid goes spiraling into the end wall and needs help off the ice and goes to the room.





  • And he's back on the bench.

  • Freddie's feeling it -- big time.

  • Numerous icings for the Maple Leafs.

  • McAvoy's knee can't be right. He's struggled big time in this series.


Observations from the third period


  • Can the Bruins mount a third-period comeback like so many times this season?

  • Good redirect by Rick Nash in front but Andersen finds it and makes the stop.

  • It'll be 4-on-4 for two minutes with Krejci and Hyman in the box.

  • Krug with a one-time blast from the point  to tie the game at 4-4. Place is alive now.





  • That reactionary penalty might have sealed Rick Nash's time in Boston. Draws a penalty, Bruins on the delay and he retaliates. Dumb.

  • During 4-on-4, DeBrusk with another impressive attack and finishes with a five-hole goal to give the Bruins a 5-4 lead. It's his second goal of the night.





  • Marchand on the stick check, retrieves it and feeds Pastrnak, who scores a goal scorer's goal. Boston 6-4.


Pregame notes
Danton Heinen
Riley Nash
David Backes
Bruce Cassidy
Here are the Bruins' line combinations and defensive pairings vs. the Maple Leafs.
Forwards
Defense
Goalies
Ryan Donato

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