"The Leafs Are Mulch Again"
Jack Edwards said it best, the Leafs are mulch again. Tuukka Rask backstopped the B’s to a 5-1 win over Toronto, and for the third time in seven years the Bruins have defeated the Leafs in 7 games. This time, there is no Tampa Bay Lightning awaiting the Bruins. Boston will host the Columbus Blue Jackets, who swept Tampa in four games, on Thursday night at TD Garden.
BOTTOM SIX COMES UP BIG
Game 7’s produce unlikely heroes – tonight it was Joakim Nordstrom and Marcus Johansson who got the B’s out to an early 2-0 cushion.
Travis Dermott tried clearing the puck up the middle but Noel Acciari kept it in, a pinch from Matt Grzelcyk kept the play alive and Joakim Nordstrom (of all people) snuck one past Freddy Andersen.
Three minutes later, Marcus Johansson extended the lead. Heavy forecheck from Karson Kuhlman made Jake Gardiner cough the puck up behind the net, Mojo swung around front and banked a shot off the post and in. 2-0 Bruins after 1.
LEAFS STORM BACK
Toronto pushed back and came out strong in the 2nd and tilted the ice. Johnny Moore failed to clear the puck out of the d-zone and John Tavares off the bench was wide open to bury one past Tuukka Rask.
The Leafs outshot the Bruins 13-7 in the middle frame but could only get one past Tuukka. The Bruins were lucky to escape the second period with a one goal lead. 2-1 Bruins after 2.
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2:40 into the 3rd, Sean Kuraly controlled the puck through the neutral zone with speed and wired one past Freddy Andersen. Absolute back breaker for the Leafs. What a goal. The Bruins locked things down in the 3rd, controlling the possession and giving the Leafs no ice. Two empty net goals from Charlie Coyle (17:26) and Patrice Bergeron (19:59) sealed the deal.
For the second straight year, the B’s are headed to the second round.
FINAL: Boston 5, Toronto 1 (They didn’t count Bergeron’s empty netter at first but now it’s official)
News, notes and quotes:
“I believe Tuukka was our best player…. this was a big Game 7 win for him. I hope fans recognize what he did tonight. Hopefully the people get behind him and acknowledge that.” – Bruce Cassidy
– Tuukka Rask was LIGHTS OUT. Hell of a game from the B’s netminder making 32 saves on 33 shots. He was their best player, especially when the Leafs threw everything at the Bruins in the 2nd period.
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– Sean fucking Kuraly was huge these last few games for the B’s. I’ve said it a million times but his straight-line speed is a difference maker for the fourth line. He’s able to get in on forechecks and get back to defend, but he’s at his best when he’s controlling the puck. Nice to see him get on the board for the first time since his hand surgery. The Kural-Leap is alive and well.
– Credit to Joakim Nordstrom for shutting up the haters. Said several times that I would prefer David Backes over him in the lineup. He made me eat my words tonight.
– David Pastrnak had a tough game. Seemed like he tried to do too much. Fought the puck all game long. We’ll see if Bruce Cassidy reunites him with Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand in their series vs. Columbus. (10/10 roast of Bieber though).
– Jake Gardiner with a -3 performance in Boston in Game 7. B’s fans should remember his -5 performance last year in Game 7. His hiccup behind the net led to Marcus Johansson’s eventual game-winning goal in the first. Who knows if he’s a Leaf next year, but Morgan Rielly stood up for him at his locker room post-game.
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– Toronto is a hell of a team. Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner are only 21 years old. The addition of John Tavares made it a series. They were able to neutralize the Perfection Line, but you have to give the Bruins credit for shutting down their own top line of Zach Hyman (one goal in Game 4, seemed like he played through injury), Mitch Marner (2 goals in Game 1, 0 points in last 3 games) and John Tavares (ENG in Game 1, 1G in Game 7). Auston Matthews was leaps and bounds better than he was a year ago (just 2 points in 2018 playoffs), he finished the seven game series with 5 goals and 1 assist for 6 points. So why in the world did he only play 6:06 in the 3rd?
– The B’s found their game in Game 6 in Toronto and carried it into Game 7. Will have a CBJ series preview tomorrow, but the B’s should be poised to go on a long run. The East is wide open.
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Big J Journo in the locker room after the game, this “what?!” from Patrice had me in tears:
It was a great night to win a hockey game.
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