Pre-Game Talk: 4/24 ECQF GAME 3 7:11 PM - THE BEAR arrives in Toronto ( series tied 1-1 ) - NESN, ESPN, CBC, SN, TVAS, 98.5 WBZ-FM

[Fenway]

Boston Bruins (47-20-15, second in the Atlantic Division) vs. Toronto Maple Leafs (46-26-10, third in the Atlantic Division)

Toronto; Wednesday, 7 p.m. EDT

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK: LINE Maple Leafs -113, Bruins -107; over/under is 5.5

NHL PLAYOFFS FIRST ROUND: Series tied 1-1

BOTTOM LINE: The Toronto Maple Leafs host the Boston Bruins in game three of the first round of the NHL Playoffs with the series tied 1-1. The teams meet Monday for the seventh time this season. The Maple Leafs won 3-2 in the last matchup.

Toronto is 12-13-3 against the Atlantic Division and 46-26-10 overall. The Maple Leafs have scored 298 total goals (3.6 per game) to rank second in NHL play.

Boston is 47-20-15 overall and 19-6-3 against the Atlantic Division. The Bruins have committed 332 total penalties (four per game) to rank seventh in league play.

TOP PERFORMERS: Auston Matthews has 69 goals and 38 assists for the Maple Leafs. John Tavares has five goals and two assists over the last 10 games.

David Pastrnak has 47 goals and 63 assists for the Bruins. Jake DeBrusk has scored three goals and added two assists over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Maple Leafs: 4-5-1, averaging 3.2 goals, 4.9 assists, 4.8 penalties and 11.3 penalty minutes while giving up 3.7 goals per game.

Bruins: 6-4-0, averaging 2.7 goals, 4.4 assists, 3.4 penalties and 7.3 penalty minutes while giving up two goals per game.

INJURIES: Maple Leafs: Bobby McMann: day to day (lower-body), John Klingberg: out for season (hip), Matt Murray: out (hip), William Nylander: day to day (undisclosed), Jake Muzzin: out for season (back).

Bruins: Justin Brazeau: out (upper-body), Milan Lucic: out (personal), Matthew Poitras: out (shoulder).

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[McGarnagle]

 

[JCRO]

Fresh thread fresh slate.

Game 3 baby

 

[lopey]

Ok back to playing smart hard hockey. Better passing and much harder forecheck

 

[Bruinfanatic]

Well home ice really hasn’t been the Bruins friend for awhile in the playoffs,so let’s try Toronto.

Ok back to playing smart hard hockey. Better passing and much harder forecheck

And more F’kkN shooting.

 

[JCRO]

Well home ice really hasn’t been the Bruins friend for awhile in the playoffs,so let’s try Toronto.


And more F’kkN shooting.

Game 1 it felt like guys were being more selfish with the puck.

Game 2 felt more of the same pain we've had this year with overpassing.

Game 3 lets get right.

 

[DarrenBanks56]

when was the last time the Bruins were up 2-0 after the first 2 games at home in the playoffs?
I seem to remember alot of splits aside from that toronto series where pasta went nuts the first 2 games.
Why is this team so bad at home in the playoffs?

 

[Alicat]

Losing Peeke is going to hurt but I think Wotherspoon will slide in well in his place.

He can take minutes off of Mac, Lindholm and Carlo and also limits Gryz and allows Shatty to be more of a PP/puck mover/fascilitator he is.

A balanced D along with playing smart hockey will be key to them winning tomorrow.

 

[TD Charlie]

when was the last time the Bruins were up 2-0 after the first 2 games at home in the playoffs?
I seem to remember alot of splits aside from that toronto series where pasta went nuts the first 2 games.
Why is this team so bad at home in the playoffs?

maybe Pastrnak goes nuts the next 2? Better yet, 3

I can dream

 

[Bruinfanatic]

when was the last time the Bruins were up 2-0 after the first 2 games at home in the playoffs?
I seem to remember alot of splits aside from that toronto series where pasta went nuts the first 2 games.
Why is this team so bad at home in the playoffs?

Dammed good question and it’s not just been recently it’s been for awhile,I don’t get it I wonder never really looked at other teams stats is this a common issue I wonder.

 

[Sheppy]

Not too confident with them gaining Nylander and us losing Peeke.

 

[Alicat]

Not too confident with them gaining Nylander and us losing Peeke.

Nylander isn't a definite and even if he does play, he's not 100%. They just need to hit him early and often.

 

[Sheppy]

Nylander isn't a definite and even if he does play, he's not 100%. They just need to hit him early and often.

I would agree, but they're getting a 90+ point player back, and they rarely give the opposing teams stars a beating.

Either way, it's a boost for their lineup at the end of the day.

 

[Bridges31]

Not too confident with them gaining Nylander and us losing Peeke.

I’m not confident because they’ve largely been outplayed in their defensive zone in the first two games. Losing Peeke makes that even worse.

 

[Sheppy]

I’m not confident because they’ve largely been outplayed in their defensive zone in the first two games. Losing Peeke makes that even worse.

They've given the Bruins fits in their own end much like Florida. Less punishing, but they're causing the Bruins to go Benny Hill trying to get pucks out. It's tough to watch how bad this d-core is under pressure. They make the wrong play more often than not, and that's a cause for concern.

 

[caz16]

 

[bobber]

Bruins need to take a page out of Keefe's play book. Go after the Leafs top line . They have Bert , Dummi and Reaves out there causing havoc trying to injure Bruins. Time to step up and start making them pay the price. Teams never finesse their way to win a series. Hammer the Leaf defense with a hard fast forecheck. If they give the top line a free ride the chances of losing the series is huge, Can sit on leads.

 

[remer]

Bruins need to take a page out of Keefe's play book. Go after the Leafs top line . They have Bert , Dummi and Reaves out there causing havoc trying to injure Bruins. Time to step up and start making them pay the price. Teams never finesse their way to win a series. Hammer the Leaf defense with a hard fast forecheck. If they give the top line a free ride the chances of losing the series is huge, Can sit on leads.

I would agree. Time for the Bruins to make Leaf players pay. Hit Mathews, Tavares, Marner and Rielly

 

[Dennis Bonvie]

when was the last time the Bruins were up 2-0 after the first 2 games at home in the playoffs?
I seem to remember alot of splits aside from that toronto series where pasta went nuts the first 2 games.
Why is this team so bad at home in the playoffs?

My theory goes back to the Gallery Gods.

They used to say the Gallery Gods didn't root for the Bruins, but rather they sat in judgement of them. I get the feeling the players still feel that vibe. Bruins fans have always been quick to turn on the team when things go badly during a game. Players do not respond well to it.

Just a theory.

Any of our season ticket holders sense that at all?

 

[SwayHeyKid]

Would be nice if Freddy became tough to play against the next couple of games. He and Maroon need to get the top guys off their games...Marchand too, start annoying some people.

 

[Cam14b]

I might be in the minority but I would add both Wotherspoon and Lohrei tomorrow night and give Gryz the night off. Gryz went in strong a few times but only when he was the second one in. He continues to pull up to protect himself for whatever reason.
Lohrei makes mistakes but he has shown a willingness to go into the corners and try to skate it out. We can no longer rim it to the other side as TO as onto that game.

Also need Marchand to produce, since goal 399 he has not been a threat to score.

 

[Grimey]

I have a hunch Samsonov will play nervous in Toronto. Screen him and throw lots of shots on him.

 

[ODAAT]

My theory goes back to the Gallery Gods.

They used to say the Gallery Gods didn't root for the Bruins, but rather they sat in judgement of them. I get the feeling the players still feel that vibe. Bruins fans have always been quick to turn on the team when things go badly during a game. Players do not respond well to it.

Just a theory.

Any of our season ticket holders sense that at all?

might be, I honestly feel the only time home ice makes a difference is in game 7 but the B`s record might tell us differently ? I don`t know their home game 7 record.

This team doesn`t have the horses to play fancy hockey, too often last night I saw a team who when passing , tried making passes that weren`t there, were often beaten to the puck first and lost battles if they were the first on the puck

Move on, said it before, said it again, pressure on the Leafs, they are the one`s who pushed all their chips into the middle on 4-5 guys and have 0 results from it for years, many experts thought this team would be in the lotter and for myself, thought they were a wild card team at best

 

[Ladyfan]

when was the last time the Bruins were up 2-0 after the first 2 games at home in the playoffs?
I seem to remember alot of splits aside from that toronto series where pasta went nuts the first 2 games.
Why is this team so bad at home in the playoffs?

First game they were good.

Toronto made adjustments now the Bs must also.

maybe Pastrnak goes nuts the next 2? Better yet, 3

I can dream

Well, he scored last night even though the Leafs have been all over him.

Need OTHERS to step up

 

[Ladyfan]

My theory goes back to the Gallery Gods.

They used to say the Gallery Gods didn't root for the Bruins, but rather they sat in judgement of them. I get the feeling the players still feel that vibe. Bruins fans have always been quick to turn on the team when things go badly during a game. Players do not respond well to it.

Just a theory.

Any of our season ticket holders sense that at all?

For me...positive energy is a good thing.

The Bs are short top-level forwards. I am all for them getting confidence as they play better that way. I love when they play with swagger.

We all know that this team is short a couple of players to go far. It isn't the player's fault.