Seven heaven baby! After tonight’s thrilling tilt between The Boston Bruins and the Toronto Maple Leafs, we have our first game seven of the 2018 playoffs. In what was probably the closest game of the series the Leafs fought tooth and nail to emerge the victors at home and force game seven in Boston. Everything from the score, to the penalties and even the shots were all separated by a margin of three or less. This will likely be the only series going to game seven, the winner will play the Tampa Bay Lightning in the semi-finals.
The first period started heavily in Boston’s favour, and was probably the only period where the Bruins out played the Leafs. They out shot Toronto 17-10 but neither team was able to break the ice as both Rask and Andersen stood tall turning aside every shot directed their way. This deadlock however would not last long as the second period saw pucks start entering the net.
First blood would be drawn by the Bruins Jake Debrusk. It only took a little over a minute into the period for the opening goal to happen as Debrusk would let go a shot that would beat Andersen under the arm for the 1-0 lead. However instead of panic, the Leafs seemed invigorated by the Bruins goal as they’d answer only thirty second later. William Nylander would tie the game up for the Leafs getting his first of the post-season. The goal would come off a rebound by Rask leaving Nylander with an open cage to shoot at. The Leafs would continue the pressure as Zack Hyman would score only two minutes after that. The goal would be waved off for goalie interference however as Hyman knocked Rask’s stick away prior to the puck crossing the line. That setback didn’t phase the Leafs at all as they would legitimately tie the game with four minutes to go in the second. Mitch Marner would receive the puck in the slot and do a turn around backhand glove side on Rask to give Toronto the 2-1 lead. The Leafs would out shoot the Bruins 12-9 in the period and carry a 2-1 lead into the third.
The goalies would steal the show in the third period as neither of them surrendered a goal in the final frame, there was a goal in the period when a goalie wasn’t present. Desperate to tie the game the Bruins pulled the goalie for the extra attacker, quite the opposite ended up happening as a result though. The puck would find it’s way onto the stick of Tomas Plekanec who would bury it into the open cage sealing the deal with the 3-1 Leafs win. The Bruins out shot the Leafs 33-30 but were unable to put Toronto away as they walked away the victors in tonight’s tilt. Game seven will be played in Boston Wednesday April 25th, so stay tuned for the first game seven of this years playoffs, the most exciting games in hockey!
