Boston, MA – The Toronto Maple Leafs are in the second game of their first-round series against the Boston Bruins. The Leafs came out flat on Saturday and ultimately couldn’t string together enough zone entries or capitalize on their chances, while the Bruins took advantage of the mistakes the Leafs made. This series is far from over, though, and the Leafs will look to rebound tonight with a better effort in all areas of the game.
- TV: Sportsnet
- Radio: 680 News
- Time: 7:00 PM ET
Last Game:
The Leafs and Bruins got off to a physical start with 48 combined hits in the first period. The Bruins scored on their first shot of the game, but the Leafs contained them to a 1-0 lead after the first period. The second period didn’t go in the Leafs’ favour as they couldn’t capitalize on their chances including a shot from Auston Matthews off the post on a relatively open net. The Leafs started taking careless penalties, and this ultimately led to the Bruins’ success and a 5-1 win, with the Bruins taking a 1-0 series lead against the Leafs.
Leafs to Keep an Eye on:
- Tyler Bertuzzi looks to be an addition to the top powerplay unit for tonight’s matchup. The Leafs struggled on the powerplay, and having a solid presence like Bertuzzi, who can dish the puck but also finish himself, should help the Leafs. Bertuzzi will look to play a well-rounded but feisty game tonight as he looks to help the Leafs even the series out against his former team.
- Mitch Marner has had a down season compared to previous years, but the playoffs are a completely different animal. With the status of Nylander unknown, Marner will be relied on more heavily. The Leafs struggled on their zone entries last game, and Nylander is the most effective Leafs’ forward in that area, but if the Leafs want a chance, they will need to figure the Bruins out. Look for Marner to have more success tonight, entering the zone and creating offense for his teammates.
- Timothy Liljegren is in the final year of his contract, and this year has been a year for Liljegren to prove his worth to the team. He is getting a continued opportunity to do that, with time on the second powerplay as well as elevated ice time. Liljegren has looked relatively composed and will look to limit his defensive mistakes while breaking the puck out of the Leafs’ end effectively. Look for Liljegren to take another step forward tonight.
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