Everything you need to know from the Bruins’ 4-1 loss to Toronto in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference playoff series in quickie form, with BSJ insight and analysis:
HEADLINES
After taking early lead, Bruins punchless in giving up four unanswered goals: Things started well enough, with Brad Marchand deftly finding Patrice Bergeron at the back post for an easy power-play goal 9:31 into the first period.
And then the Bruins staggered to find much offensive flow after that. Boston had issues getting through the neutral zone and putting quality chances on Freddie Anderson (37 saves, .974 save percentage). And it started with a lack of puck possession, and Toronto bringing a physical style of play. "They played harder," said Bruce Cassidy. "Some of (the guys) got a lesson today... (Toronto) competed harder. Most teams do come playoff time. We have to be ready for it, but I think honestly if we just managed the puck better, it would allow us to play to our strength and be heavier and win the battles in the walls, and that doesn’t come into play as much."
Sloppy play in back end gifts goals to Leafs: On the first goal by Mitch Marner, Bergeron won the faceoff but Charlie McAvoy couldn't gain possession and was turned into a pretzel with Zdeno Chara as Jake Muzzin's shot from the point went off the post right to a wide-open Marner for an easy goal.
Marner's second tally came on a penalty shot after Jake DeBrusk lost the handle at the blue line and had to trip Marner from behind for an easy call by the officials.
The third goal was another breakaway chance buried by William Nylander, and the Bruins still gave up two more odd-man rushes in the final 90 seconds of the second period.
Yeah, not good.
"Our puck management issues today cost us in a lot of different areas in the game," Cassidy said. "It really had an effect on giving them a lot of energy on both with their legs and physicality, so we just have to be better in that area."
TURNING POINT
With a little less than two minutes left in the second period, the Bruins looked to a have 2-on-1 opportunity with Matt Grzelcyk and Charlie Coyle, but Grzelcyk couldn't get a shot off as Marcus Johansson covered the point for him. A quick outlet to Nazem Kadri in space along the left boards gave him vision and he threated a cross-ice pass to Nylander, who had snuck behind Johansson and was left 1-on-1 with Tuukka Rask. The puck found the five hole and the Bruins were in trouble down 3-1.
"Other guys tried to force it a little bit," Cassidy said. "Maybe turn down some opportunities to make an easier play, especially in the offensive end of it, offensive blue line, opportunity on the two-on-one we had with Grizz. Next thing you know it’s in our net, so some of that hopefully they’ve learned that you have to make a quicker decision with it, and that’s, again, individual-based and how Toronto, how they play. They’ve got a fast team, so that shouldn’t be a surprise. Clearly on us to get that message across better Saturday."
SECOND GUESS
Despite having the last change, the Bruins' top line of Bergeron, Marchand and David Pastrnak kept getting matched up with Zach Hyman, John Tavares and Marner. That negated the advantage the Bergeron line had in last year's series when they absolutely annihilated Auston Matthews' line. It's interesting that Cassidy didn't try to force the issue with those matchups more.
THREE UP
Charlie Coyle: Coyle was one of the few bright spots for the Bruins up front tonight, finishing the night with three shots on goal (all in Grade-A areas) while also ringing the post twice. While the 6-foot-3 center often tends to hover around the slot to look for plays, he battled down low and tested Andersen in the dirty areas. A nice change of pace.
David Krejci: After a bit of a slow start, Krejci and his line really started to string together a couple of impressive shifts, especially following Nylander's goal. During the 14:31 in which Krejci was out on the ice, Boston held a 21-11 edge in shot attempts and an 10-6 advantage in shots on goal. Despite earning plenty of reps against the Matthews line, Krejci and his line was not knocked for a goal against.
Connor Clifton: Like most skaters on Boston's roster Thursday, Clifton was not immune to a couple of misplays, but he held his own in his playoff debut, logging 11:25 of TOI while drawing a penalty on William Nylander that led to Boston's lone goal of the night.
THREE DOWN:
Zdeno Chara: You can knock a number of Bruins skaters for their sluggish play on Thursday, but Chara looked particularly rough in a game that quickly turned into a track meet. Along with failing to corral a puck off a Leafs clear in the second that led to a 3-on-1 rush for Toronto down the other end of the ice, Chara was also whistled for an interference call in the closing minutes of the third period.
Acciari Line: Boston is going to need its checking line to be effective if it wants to bully Toronto's skaters down low. They did anything but that on Thursday, as Toronto held a commanding 7-0 edge in shot attempts during just over two minutes of 5v5 TOI in which Noel Acciari, Joakim Nordstrom and Chris Wagner were out on the ice together. The trio finished the game with a brutal 35.29 CF% in 7:42 of 5v5 TOI.
Tuukka Rask: Rask was hung out to dry on numerous occasions Thursday night, but man, he needs to make that save on the Nylander in what was a breakaway strike through the five-hole. Rask finished with 29 saves on the night.
INJURIES
Jake DeBrusk left for a short time with an injury after crashing into the boards on the Marner penalty shot infraction. "I’m feeling alright, yeah, it wasn’t fun causing the turnover there and then seeing him on the breakaway," DeBrusk said.
TOP PLAY
Just nasty from Marner.
ONE TAKE BEDARD WILL PROBABLY REGRET LATER
Mike Babcock got the best of Bruce Cassidy in this one: For a guy who largely saw his team implode down the stretch and was largely outcoached by Cassidy last year, Babcock came ready to play in this series. His decision to match Jake Muzzin and Nikita Zaitsev against the Bergeron line — instead of Morgan Reilly and Ron Hainsey, who were embarrassed last year — seemed to throw the Bruins off and set the tone for the game. And Cassidy also declined to take advantage of some line matching that could have been to his benefit. In the end, the Bruins were all off in this one — players and coaches — and that's how you end up with a 4-1 loss. Anticipate them coming back hard on Saturday.