Need to Know: Round 1 | Bruins-Maple Leafs | Boston Bruins - NHL.com

Opposing View

The Maple Leafs finished third in the Atlantic Division with 102 points, seven behind the Bruins. Toronto boasts a potent offensive attack, having ranked second in the league in goals per game (3.67) and seventh on the power play (24.0%). On the defensive side, Toronto allowed 3.18 goals per game, ranking 21st in the NHL. They were tied with the Predators for 22nd on the penalty kill at 76.9%.

“Offensively, they're a gifted hockey club,” said Bruins GM Don Sweeney. “They present a lot of challenges down around the net front area, and we're going to have to be really sharp there. We’re a pretty good team defensively when we stick to what our principles are, so I expect it to be a tight series overall.

“Obviously, their power play is really good, our penalty killing has been pretty consistent throughout the year, our power play needs to come back online here. Fortunately, we scored a goal the other night to hopefully give the guys a little bit of confidence.

“It’s going to be a really good challenge on all levels. A good hockey club, a good opponent. If you if you've made it to the playoffs, you've earned a right here… and Toronto will present a really good challenge.”

Toronto is paced by its talented core group of Auston Matthews, William Nylander, Mitch Marner, John Tavares, and Morgan Rielly. Matthews led the NHL with 69 goals this season, one shy of becoming the first player to hit 70 since Teemu Selanne and Alexander Mogilny in 1992-93. His 107 points ranked sixth in the league, three points back of Pastrnak.

“A lot of skill, a lot of skill and a lot of compete,” McAvoy said of Matthews. “And it's going to be a big challenge for us moving forward.”

Nylander, meanwhile, ranked 10^th in the NHL in scoring with 98 points (40 goals, 58 points), though he missed Toronto’s practice on Friday and his status for Game 1 is in question, per media reports. Marner was 22^nd with 85 points (26 points, 59 assists). Tavares finished fourth on the Maple Leafs in scoring with 65 points (29 goals, 36 assists) and Rielly fifth with 58 points (7 goals, 51 assists).

Former Bruins forward Tyler Bertuzzi ranked seventh in team scoring with 43 points and fifth in goals with 21.

“We can't turn pucks over and force plays,” said Bruins winger Pat Maroon. “We can't let them get in the transition game. They do a good job behind the nets and soft plays, so we’ve got to find ways to limit that, limit their time and space and be harder on their skills guys, and find ways to just limit their time.”

Toronto’s Friday practice lineup:

FORWARDS

Tyler Bertuzzi – Auston Matthews – Max Domi

Matthew Knies – John Tavares – Mitch Marner

Nick Robertson – Pontus Holmberg – Calle Jarnkrok

Connor Dewar – David Kampf – Ryan Reaves

Noah Gregor

DEFENSEMEN

Morgan Rielly – Ilya Lybushkin

Simon Benoit – Jake McCabe

Joel Edmundson – Timothy Liljegren

Mark Giordano – T.J. Brodie

Cade Weber – Connor Timmins

GOALIES

Ilya Samsonov

Joseph Woll

Goalie Ilya Samsonov carried the baton goal with a 23-7-8 record, .890 save percentage and 3.13 goals against average in 40 games. Joseph Woll was 12-11-1 with a .907 save percentage and 2.94 GAA in 25 games.

“I think both teams are very energetic,” said B’s blue liner Brandon Carlo. “We obviously both have a lot of passion being Original Six teams…the way we come into it with the mindset of it’s gonna be a physical series at different points, it’s gonna be a skilled series at different points, it’s gonna be a gritty series. There’s gonna be little components of each part. I think whoever can adjust to the other team’s playing style the best is gonna come out of this and be victorious.”

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2024-04-21 05:57:10Z
CBMiR2h0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lm5obC5jb20vYnJ1aW5zL25ld3MvbmVlZC10by1rbm93LXJvdW5kLTEtYnJ1aW5zLW1hcGxlLWxlYWZz0gEA