BOSTON -- The Boston Bruins are hoping to replicate the formula in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference First Round against the Toronto Maple Leafs at TD Garden on Monday.
The Bruins made a statement in Game 1, winning 5-1 in convincing fashion Saturday.
But by the next day, both teams were ready to move on, the Bruins hoping to play in the same fashion that helped them take a 1-0 lead in the best-of-7 series, the Maple Leafs looking to forget Game 1 and make up for it Monday.
“It’s just to continue to believe in what we’re doing, get to our game more frequently, and clean up the details, the discipline and minimizing the penalties that we take and then execute better on special teams,” Toronto coach Sheldon Keefe said. “That’s really it.”
With the Game 1 win, the Bruins have won each of their past eight games against the Maple Leafs, dating to Jan. 14, 2023, in the regular season and playoffs. That is tied for their longest such winning streak against Toronto, after they also had an eight-game run from Oct. 20, 2011, to March 7, 2013.
Boston has an all-time record of 38-20 (.655) when taking a 1-0 lead in a best-of-7 Stanley Cup Playoffs series, including 29-13 (.690) when starting a series at home.
“I liked our physicality; that’s got to be repeated,” Bruins coach Jim Montgomery said. “I liked how we got over top of people, didn’t give up too much off the rush. That’s really important against such an electric offensive team.”
Here are 3 keys for Game 2:
Keefe said the Maple Leafs will see how Nylander feels before making a decision as to whether he’ll play Game 2.
The forward took part in the morning skate Monday after skating in an optional practice Sunday, but stayed on the ice with the scratches after the skate, so it’s far from a sure thing that he’s playing.
It’s clear that Toronto missed the presence of Nylander in Game 1. He’s a proven scorer who finished second on the team with 98 points (40 goals, 58 assists) in 82 games, second only to Auston Matthews in points. With Matthews, Mitch Marner and John Tavares all held off the score sheet Saturday, getting Nylander back would be significant.
2. Again, who’s in goal?
Jeremy Swayman did everything the Bruins could have asked of him in Game 1, allowing one goal on 36 shots and saving them repeatedly, including during a crucial 4-on-3 to start the second period.
But that doesn’t guarantee him to start Game 2.
All season, Boston has alternated their goalies game-by-game, with Swayman (25-10-8, 2.53 goals-against average, .916 save percentage) and Linus Ullmark (22-10-7, 2.57, .915) putting up nearly identical numbers. It’s unusual, but it has worked for the Bruins and their goalies. Still, after Game 1, coach Jim Montgomery admitted, “It’s going to be hard to go away from ‘Sway.’”
Before Game 2, Montgomery said, “Do any of you play Wordle? Starting goalie tonight has two vowels in his first and last name.”
Well, at least we know it isn’t Tuukka Rask.
3. Stay out of the box
The Maple Leafs might have been most frustrated with their undisciplined play. They took six penalties in Game 1, leading to two power-play goals for the Bruins and also taking away their ability to play 5-on-5 hockey.
They can’t do it again in Game 2.
“High emotion,” Toronto defenseman Jake McCabe said of why the team took so many. “I liked our emotion, to be honest. Obviously you don’t want to get penalties, but I thought our physicality was great, our competitiveness was great. So, just finding that line.”
Maple Leafs projected lineup
Tyler Bertuzzi -- Auston Matthews -- Max Domi
Matthew Knies -- John Tavares -- Mitch Marner
Nicholas Robertson -- Pontus Holmberg -- Calle Jarnkrok
Connor Dewar -- David Kampf -- Ryan Reaves
Morgan Rielly -- Ilya Lyubushkin
Simon Benoit -- Jake McCabe
Joel Edmundson -- Timothy Liljegren
Ilya Samsonov
Joseph Woll
Scratched: Martin Jones, Noah Gregor, TJ Brodie, Conor Timmins, Mark Giordano, Cade Webber
Injured: William Nylander (undisclosed), Bobby McCann (lower body)
Bruins projected lineup
Danton Heinen -- Pavel Zacha -- David Pastrnak
Brad Marchand -- Charlie Coyle -- Jake DeBrusk
Jakub Lauko -- Morgan Geekie -- Trent Frederic
John Beecher -- Jesper Boqvist -- Pat Maroon
Hampus Lindholm -- Charlie McAvoy
Matt Grzelcyk -- Brandon Carlo
Kevin Shattenkirk -- Andrew Peeke
Jeremy Swayman
Linus Ullmark
Scratched: James van Riemsdyk, Parker Wotherspoon
Injured: Justin Brazeau (upper body), Derek Forbort (undisclosed)
Status report
Nylander, a forward, participated in Toronto’s morning skate Monday, but he did not join line rushes. He also stayed on with projected scratches for extra work, but Maple Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe said they will “see how he feels the rest of the day” and make a decision. … Forbort, a defenseman, was recalled from his LTIR conditioning loan with Providence of the American Hockey League on Monday. He participated in Boston’s morning skate but is not expected to return to the lineup. … Bruins coach Jim Montgomery did not name a starting goalie for Monday. Swayman made 35 saves in Game 1, a 5-1 win.
