Round 1 Bruins-Leafs

[The Napkin]

Game 1: Maple Leafs at Bruins -- Saturday 8 p.m. ET (TBS, truTV, MAX, SN, TVAS, CBC)
Game 2: Maple Leafs at Bruins -- April 22, 7 p.m. ET (ESPN, SN, CBC, TVAS)
Game 3: Bruins at Maple Leafs -- April 24, 7 p.m. ET (ESPN, SN, TVAS, CBC)
Game 4: Bruins at Maple Leafs -- April 27, 8 p.m. ET (TBS, truTV, MAX, SN, TVAS, CBC)
Game 5: Maple Leafs at Bruins -- April 30, TBD
Game 6: Bruins at Maple Leafs -- May 2, TBD
Game 7: Maple Leafs at Bruins -- May 4, TBD

Complete Bruins-Maple Leafs series coverage

 

[Foxy42]

Hopefully the last two games are a case of the team letting off the gas a bit and staying healthy. All playoff series are hard, but outside of Philly, I like the Leafs matchup much more than Lightning. The high octane top lines of Toronto will be a lot to content with, but we are better having that worry than the physicality and goaltending concern that would have come with TB.

B’s in 6

 

[Red Averages]

Do we know if there is a way to watch on TV for those in Boston that don't have NESN?

 

[IdiotKicker]

First round is generally double-broadcast on a national channel as well.

 

[joe dokes]

The high octane top lines of Toronto will be a lot to content with, but we are better having that worry than the physicality and goaltending concern that would have come with TB.

Agree with the theory. I think the Bruins are dependent on a lot of middling guys to score. (At least many of them are veterans). A not-as-punishing opening round might let them get their bearings. Same with the defense. I suspect that game-planning for speed is a bit easier than game-planning for getting your teeth rattled on a million dump-ins.

 

[NJ_Sox_Fan]

Do they continue the goalie rotation, or stick with 1 main goalie?

 

[Foxy42]

Rotation. Swayman game one. Rotate through game 4 and make a hot hand call if needed after that.

 

[Haunted]

And here we go!

Would NESN360 be a good “first round” option, before games go national and I need to switch to something more expensive like Fubo?

 

[cshea]

Rotation. Swayman game one. Rotate through game 4 and make a hot hand call if needed after that.

They ended the season with nearly identical numbers, but Ullmark's been really good since the trade deadline while Swayman has dipped on the whole, despite a couple of nice starts down the stretch. He was a bit more bumpy. Post deadline, Ullmark has a .935 save percentage in 9 games. Swayman is .884 in 8 games. I guess a counter is Swayman got 3 of the 4 games against the Leafs this year and stopped 92 of 96 shots against.

Another point in Ullmark's favor is he's been better, not by a ton but better, at high danger saves. .833 to Swayman's .813. Toronto generates the 2nd most high danger chances in the league and thus the 4th most high danger goals.

They should stick to the rotation absolutely but if they are going hot hand at the start or there's one they'd lean on over the other I suspect it's Ullmark.

 

[durandal1707]

Although I don't put much stock into it, the Bruins did go 4-0-0 against the Leafs in the regular season. Two early season wins that needed extra time: a 3-2 shootout win on November 2nd, and a 4-3 overtime win a month later (which involved surrendering a 5v6 goal). Then a pair of 4-1 regulation wins in March. 5v5 expected goals for these games was: 65.4%, 44.2%, 49.9% and 61.1%. Again it doesn't mean much, but the Bruins know they can beat these guys and it appears they can win the possession battle as well which has been an area of concern for the past few weeks.

Bruins should have a huge advantage in net, and perhaps a slight advantage on special teams—the Leafs have a very good power play (7th overall to Boston's 13th), but they're 23rd on the kill.

 

[Lose Remerswaal]

Team employees only know “Saturday”, hope to know time by Tomorrow

 

[Salem's Lot]

Team employees only know “Saturday”, hope to know time by Tomorrow

They’ll get the HNIC 8pm time slot. Guaranteed.

 

[Lose Remerswaal]

They’ll get the HNIC 8pm time slot. Guaranteed.

That makes sense. Seeing my friends with the team tomorrow night, I’m sure it will have been announced by then.

 

[amfox1]

George Richards
@GeorgeRichards
4h

Word on the street: #FlaPanthers and #tbLightning Game 1 is Saturday in Sunrise. Assume the 5 pm window on TNT; Leafs/Bruins get prime time on HNIC

 

[The Napkin]

Sat at 8 it is

 

[TSC]

Not that the game means anything, but Tampa is absolutely lighting up Toronto right now. 5-1 in the second.

 

[The Napkin]

View: https://twitter.com/FlutoShinzawa/status/1780963071550185707

 

[cshea]

Carlo is practicing.

Heinen - Zacha - Pastrnak
Marchand - Coyle - DeBrusk
Lauko - Geekie - Frederic
van Riemsdyk - Boqvist - Maroon

Lindholm - McAvoy
Grzelyck - Carlo
Shattenkirk - Peeke
Wotherspoon

Ullmark
Swayman

 

[cshea]

Sweeney:

- Goalies know the plan; they aren't going to share it publicly
- Brazeau is still week-to-week; maybe available at the end of the series
- Forbort is progressing quicker than anticipated. Will play for Providence this weekend and they'll go from there.
- Lohrei is getting called up tomorrow, plus another player.

 

[RedOctober3829]

A possible development in Toronto

View: https://twitter.com/jonassiegel/status/1781373702837612847

 

[cshea]

Beecher and Lohrei were called up.

Seems like the game 1 lineup will be:

Heinen - Zacha - Pastrnak
Marchand - Coyle - DeBrusk
Lauko - Geekie - Frederic
XXX - Boqvist - Maroon

Lindholm - McAvoy
Grzelyck - Carlo
Shattenkirk - Peeke

Only decision is 4LW between JVR and Beecher.

 

[cshea]

Nylander is "a possibility" to play tomorrow according to Keefe.

View: https://twitter.com/smclaughlin9/status/1781394127734661125

 

[Nator]

View: https://twitter.com/FlutoShinzawa/status/1780963071550185707

It's behind a paywall, but here's a great article on Brazeau's journey to the NHL.
https://theathletic.com/5391795/2024/04/19/justin-brazeau-bruins-maple-leafs/

 

[Murby]

Beecher and Lohrei were called up.

Seems like the game 1 lineup will be:

Heinen - Zacha - Pastrnak
Marchand - Coyle - DeBrusk
Lauko - Geekie - Frederic
XXX - Boqvist - Maroon

Lindholm - McAvoy
Grzelyck - Carlo
Shattenkirk - Peeke

Only decision is 4LW between JVR and Beecher.

Gotta be Beecher for the speed. Not that he’s a comet or anything….

 

[Myt1]

Beecher and Lohrei were called up.

Seems like the game 1 lineup will be:

Heinen - Zacha - Pastrnak
Marchand - Coyle - DeBrusk
Lauko - Geekie - Frederic
XXX - Boqvist - Maroon

Lindholm - McAvoy
Grzelyck - Carlo
Shattenkirk - Peeke

Only decision is 4LW between JVR and Beecher.

Grz seemed to really be moving in some fits and spurts that I noticed the last game or two, but that middle pair fucking terrifies me against Toronto’s top forwards right now, especially if Carlo is dinged up. Please win two at home with the last change.

 

[durandal1707]

Gotta be Beecher for the speed. Not that he’s a comet or anything….

Beecher's also 2nd on the team in faceoff%, which may come in handy situationally. He's just behind Zacha and ahead of Coyle in that category... the rest of the team is underwater on faceoffs.

 

[cshea]

Grz seemed to really be moving in some fits and spurts that I noticed the last game or two, but that middle pair fucking terrifies me against Toronto’s top forwards right now, especially if Carlo is dinged up. Please win two at home with the last change.

Yeah, Grz definitely struggled throughout the year. I do think they get a bit too immobile with him out and Wotherspoon in. And then the alternative is Lohrei who isn’t ready defensively for playoff hockey.

 

[Myt1]

Yeah, Grz definitely struggled throughout the year. I do think they get a bit too immobile with him out and Wotherspoon in. And then the alternative is Lohrei who isn’t ready defensively for playoff hockey.

I agree. In case I wasn’t clear, the recent fits and spurts were him showing some of his old mobility; he went from zero to neutral zone in no time. I think he was probably hampered a bit by something for a little while there in the second half.

 

[cshea]

I agree. In case I wasn’t clear, the recent fits and spurts were him showing some of his old mobility; he went from zero to neutral zone in no time. I think he was probably hampered a bit by something for a little while there in the second half.

Ah, yeah. Hopefully he is back to good Grz but it’s been up and down. That pair is definitely a concern. Grz can get hemmed in and Carlo can’t get pucks out and is hurt himself. Not ideal.

 

[cshea]

Or Carlo will score a goal.

 

[wiffleballhero]

Grz is listed as having 17:04 on the ice in game one. I would have guessed it was closer to about 10 or 11 minutes. Sure seemed like he was hardly out there at all for long stretches.

 

[The Napkin]

View: https://twitter.com/RochieWBZ/status/1782426413519294612

 

[The Napkin]

View: https://twitter.com/markhmasters/status/1782431049579950327

 

[Foxy42]

We’ve been outplayed four out of six periods. Going to need to work hard for a split in Toronto.

Bs in 7

 

[cshea]

The Bergeron effect.

They can't handle Matthews. 31:49 for Matthews at 5x5, shots are 23-17 Toronto, scoring chances are 24-9 Toronto, High Danger chances are 12-6, Goals are 2-0. Expected goals are 2.53-1.87 Toronto (58%). And now they might be adding Nylander to that line. Big, big problems.

Another problem is they can't handle the 4th line of Toronto. They really need to punish Toronto when Reaves is on the ice but instead Reaves has spent the entire series in the Bruins offensive zone. That can't happen, especially if you are going to get your teeth kicked in by Matthews.

 

[Smiling Joe Hesketh]

The Bergeron effect.

They can't handle Matthews. 31:49 for Matthews at 5x5, shots are 23-17 Toronto, scoring chances are 24-9 Toronto, High Danger chances are 12-6, Goals are 2-0. Expected goals are 2.53-1.87 Toronto (58%). And now they might be adding Nylander to that line. Big, big problems.

Another problem is they can't handle the 4th line of Toronto. They really need to punish Toronto when Reaves is on the ice but instead Reaves has spent the entire series in the Bruins offensive zone. That can't happen, especially if you are going to get your teeth kicked in by Matthews.

This is the second year in a row they're getting pushed around on home ice. I'm getting the uneasy feeling that Monty is not a wartime consigliere.

The Bruins should have the edge in defense and goaltending but they're getting handily outplayed. Not good.

 

[BaseballJones]

This is the second year in a row they're getting pushed around on home ice. I'm getting the uneasy feeling that Monty is not a wartime consigliere.

The Bruins should have the edge in defense and goaltending but they're getting handily outplayed. Not good.

Maybe the Bruins just aren't quite as good as their point total would suggest. I know they got a lot of points for overtime losses, but they were still losses. If you go by just W-L, Toronto was 46-36 while Boston was 47-35. So basically dead even. I expect this to be a knock-down, drag-out series that could be won on a strange bounce of a puck.

 

[IdiotKicker]

This is the second year in a row they're getting pushed around on home ice. I'm getting the uneasy feeling that Monty is not a wartime consigliere.

The Bruins should have the edge in defense and goaltending but they're getting handily outplayed. Not good.

I mean they won the first game 5-1 and it was uncompetitive for 52 minutes. Let’s pump the brakes a bit.

 

[Smiling Joe Hesketh]

I mean they won the first game 5-1 and it was uncompetitive for 52 minutes. Let’s pump the brakes a bit.

And last year they suffered an epic upset against a team they vastly outpointed in the regular season because Monty completely lost his head regarding matchups and the goaltending rotation.

It's one thing to lose at home, it's quite another to be dominated. Last night was really, really ugly. Only Ullmark kept it close, it should have otherwise been a 6-2 game. I remain questioning of Monty until he can figure out how to get them to deal with the physical play, because last year he couldn't and last night he couldn't either.

 

[IdiotKicker]

And last year they suffered an epic upset against a team they vastly outpointed in the regular season because Monty completely lost his head regarding matchups and the goaltending rotation.

It's one thing to lose at home, it's quite another to be dominated. Last night was really, really ugly. Only Ullmark kept it close, it should have otherwise been a 6-2 game. I remain questioning of Monty until he can figure out how to get them to deal with the physical play, because last year he couldn't and last night he couldn't either.

And if Marchand finishes a couple chances it’s 4-3 despite the ugliness. I just can’t do the sky is falling every time they lose a game in the playoffs while having silence after an absolutely dominant win on Saturday.

This team is not perfect. They probably aren’t winning the Stanley Cup with this roster because there isn’t enough talent. But the series isn’t over because they lost one home game, just like they did in 2019 to Toronto.

 

[cshea]

Kinda under reported but a big problem is Marchand has 4 goals in his last 33 games. The depth guys have been fine but they kinda need him to be a 2nd weapon behind Pastrnak.

 

[cshea]

Also, in general, the problem to me is the offense. They don't possess the puck, they don't shoot unless they get close and they don't that often enough. The rest is ancillary.

 

[lexrageorge]

Hard to blame Montgomery; he got a lot out of an out manned roster all season. The team went all in last season, and failed to get out of the first round.

 

[Salem's Lot]

And if Marchand finishes a couple chances it’s 4-3 despite the ugliness. I just can’t do the sky is falling every time they lose a game in the playoffs while having silence after an absolutely dominant win on Saturday.

This team is not perfect. They probably aren’t winning the Stanley Cup with this roster because there isn’t enough talent. But the series isn’t over because they lost one home game, just like they did in 2019 to Toronto.

I think it’s definitely fair to talk about the coach if they lose this series. He’ll be going on year 3 of what is either a 3 or 4 year deal, so it’s extension evaluation time. I think he’s an ok coach, but if he can’t come up with some adjustments here in this series to slow down Matthews or exploit other areas of that team, I wouldn’t feel comfortable extending him.

 

[Salem's Lot]

Hard to blame Montgomery; he got a lot out of an out manned roster all season. The team went all in last season, and failed to get out of the first round.

And he was a big part in losing that series.

 

[Smiling Joe Hesketh]

And if Marchand finishes a couple chances it’s 4-3 despite the ugliness. I just can’t do the sky is falling every time they lose a game in the playoffs while having silence after an absolutely dominant win on Saturday.

This team is not perfect. They probably aren’t winning the Stanley Cup with this roster because there isn’t enough talent. But the series isn’t over because they lost one home game, just like they did in 2019 to Toronto.

The silence on Sunday is because I was out of town at my wife's fencing tournament!

They need to win a playoff series. It's been three years already and after last year they have to show they can figure this out. Toronto is absolutely a team they should beat. No, they aren't winning the Cup but they cannot be getting dismissed early again either.

 

[joe dokes]

Kinda under reported but a big problem is Marchand has 4 goals in his last 33 games. The depth guys have been fine but they kinda need him to be a 2nd weapon behind Pastrnak.

Also, in general, the problem to me is the offense. They don't possess the puck, they don't shoot unless they get close and they don't that often enough. The rest is ancillary.

I think both of these fall under the larger umbrella of "lack of top end offensive talent."

 

[cshea]

Lohrei called up. I would play him. A big problem is they can’t break the puck out, something he excels at. A risk defensively but worth the gamble. They can swap Shattenkirk for Wotherspoon or Forbort to maintain the stay-at-home PK presence that Peeke was providing.

 

[Haunted]

Any word on Peeke?


And Shattenkirk needs to sit out unless injuries require it. He was awful last night.

 

[cshea]

Peeke wasn’t on the ice for the optional skate today. The recall of Lohrei suggests Peeke will not be available. additionally, Peeke was kind of a disaster himself. 30% xGF% with an ozone start at 54%.

I think we will see a new bottom pair tomorrow, just don’t know who.