Bruins Game-Breaker: From near-disaster to game-winner
The Boston Bruins lit up the Toronto Maple Leafs by a final of 5-1 to open their first-round playoff series. But it could have been a different story.
Leafs superstar Auston Matthews very nearly made the Bruins pay dearly for a pair of unsightly mistakes. It would’ve been blooper reel stuff. Instead, Matthews hit a post, then the B’s potted another goal less than two minutes later, the eventual game-winner in an ultimately decisive victory.
Matthews blew his most golden opportunity of the game after Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy took a tumble backchecking. Yoinking the puck from a floating Jeremy Swayman, Matthews fired toward the gaping net, albeit from a bit of a tough angle. But the tying goal was there for him, and instead, fortunately for Swayman, the game stayed 1-0.
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“I just wanted to see if I could get there before him,” Swayman said after the game. “Glad it didn’t go in.”
“It’s a game of inches,” Matthews said. “We got a taste of what the series is all about, here, in this game. We’ve got to elevate our game and continue to put our best foot forward and get better.”
It was critical for the Bruins not to lose their structure after the near-blunder. They did not, as McAvoy recovered and had support from Matt Grzelcyk, who fired up ice to activate the Bruins’ tenacious fourth line for an O-zone shift. They were back in the normal flow of the game.
Only about a minute after the Matthews miss, the Bruins completed the two-goal swing. It started with a relentless forecheck by the Bruins’ pain-in-the-ass line of Brad Marchand, Charlie Coyle, and Jake DeBrusk. With additional help from Hampus Lindholm along the half boards, DeBrusk absorbed a hit as he gained control of the puck behind the net, then made a great anticipatory feed to Brandon Carlo at the point.
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One slap shot later, the Bruins had a two-goal lead. Less than two minutes after they came within inches of a tie game. Two consecutive goals by DeBrusk later in the period effectively put the game away.
It was not lost on the team how big that swing was in the middle period.
“It was huge,” said head coach Jim Montgomery. “I thought it was 1-1 as soon as he got by Swayman. We’ve got to be better in those areas. We can’t give Matthews those kinds of opportunities, he’s too good of a goalscorer.”
MORE: Bruins Game 1 highlights vs Maple Leafs
The Bruins kept Matthews off the scoresheet, as he finished with five shots on goal. But he and his linemates were not without their chances, none greater than that open net. The Leafs had a 19-9 shot attempt edge at 5-on-5 with Matthews on the ice Saturday night.
“They had opportunities,” said Brad Marchand. “I still think we can do a better job in areas. They had a really good push in the third, which we should’ve done a better job controlling.
“We didn’t start well enough, and even though we were kind of in control of the game there, we need to continue to push there. So, definitely some areas we can continue to be better at.”
Charlie Coyle, Auston Matthews (Brian Fluharty/Getty Images)
Matthews won’t be held scoreless throughout the series, and especially if he keeps getting opportunities handed to him like that key moment in the second period. But the Bruins deserve credit for recovering, remaining composed, and sticking to their game, which allowed them to score at the other end soon after what would’ve been an ugly one to give up.
That’s the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Sometimes, a post here, a bounce there, can decide a game, or a series.
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Matt Dolloff is a writer and podcaster for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Check out all of Matt’s content.
Bruins light up Maple Leafs to take 1-0 series lead
