Leafs defeat Bruins in Sport 6

William Nylander scored twice and Joseph Woll made 22 saves because the Toronto Maple Leafs downed the Boston Bruins 2-1 on Thursday to power Sport 7 of their first-round collection.

Toronto has now gained two straight — together with Tuesday’s 2-1 extra time victory in Sport 5 — after falling behind their Unique Six rival 3-1 to power a winner-take-all finale Saturday in Boston.

Jeremy Swayman stopped 24 photographs for the Bruins, who additionally blew a 3-1 lead in opposition to the Florida Panthers in final spring’s first spherical earlier than shedding in Sport 7 following a record-setting common season. Morgan Geekie scored, ruining Woll’s shutout with 0.1 seconds left.

The Leafs had been minus Auston Matthews for a second straight elimination contest after the star centre was pulled from Sport 4 with an sickness after which missed Tuesday’s 2-1 extra time victory at TD Backyard that saved Toronto alive.

The winner of Leafs-Bruins will tackle the well-rested Florida Panthers, who topped the Tampa Bay Lightning 4-1 in that collection, within the second spherical.

Leafs have battled again in opposition to Bruins earlier than

Nylander snapped a 0-0 tie with 54.8 seconds left within the second interval with a few of his patented Swedish type. The slick winger took a move from Timothy Liljegren within the offensive zone earlier than weaving away from his examine and firing a shot that glanced off Bruins defenceman Charlie McAvoy in entrance and beat Swayman on the shortside.

The objective set off wild celebrations inside an electrical Scotiabank Area — and outdoors the rink as Maple Leaf Sq. was a mosh pit of blue and white.

Leafs captain John Tavares had an amazing likelihood that whistled simply huge earlier than Woll went to work. After a shot pinballed simply huge with the Bruins buzzing, the rookie goaltender made an enormous cease with the glove on Charlie Coyle in tight to raucous approval.

Boston continued to press, however Toronto made it 2-0 with 2:13 left in regulation when Nylander moved in alone after taking a move from Matthew Knies and slid a backhand between Swayman’s pads.

Geekie scored with 0.1 to spoil Woll’s first profession shutout.

Matchup historical past

The Leafs battled again from 3-1 deficits in opposition to Boston in 2013 and 2018 earlier than shedding in seven.

Toronto held a 3-2 lead in opposition to the Bruins in 2019, however then dropped two straight for a 3rd collection loss in opposition to Boston in seven years.

The Leafs, who led 12-2 on the shot clock after the primary interval of Sport 5, got here out flying once more Thursday with a pair good probabilities in a bodily opening 20 minutes that noticed the groups mix for 48 hits.

Toronto’s energy play had some respectable seems to be on its first alternative, however dropped to 1-for-18 within the collection earlier than Knies — Tuesday’s OT hero — had an amazing likelihood on Swayman’s doorstep on the buzzer as the house aspect outshot Boston 21-1.

Leafs defenceman Jake McCabe had a terrific look from the slot early within the second earlier than Boston star David Pastrnak took a double-minor for high-sticking, however Toronto once more may get nothing going with the person benefit.

Woll makes NHL historical past

The Bruins lastly registered their second shot greater than 27 minutes into the sport, and Woll needed to be sharp on a pair Pastrnak efforts and a Jake DeBrusk likelihood.

Toronto’s under-fire penalty kill — with six targets in opposition to in 14 probabilities these playoffs coming into Thursday — held agency later within the interval.

Woll needed to make two huge stops with the groups again even off McAvoy’s stick with set the stage for Nylander on the different finish.

The 25-year-old grew to become the primary goaltender in NHL historical past to have every of his first 4 profession playoff begins are available potential elimination video games. Thatcher Demko (2020), Michael Hutchinson (2020) and Manny Fernandez (2003) are the one different netminders to have their first three begins are available win-or-go residence contests.

Leafs enforcer Ryan Reaves was a wholesome scratch. Toronto winger Noah Gregor noticed his first motion of the collection. Morgan Rielly had two assists.

The Bruins had been with out ahead Danton Heinen. Head coach Jim Montgomery mentioned following Boston’s morning skate he is listed as day-to-day. John Beecher took Heinen’s spot within the lineup.

Veteran defenceman Kevin Shattenkirk returned to the fold after being changed by Matt Grzelyk in Sport 5.