Bruins, Maple Leafs to play Recreation 7 for journey to Japanese 2nd Spherical – NHL.com

Boston has defeated Toronto in winner-take-all recreation previous 3 occasions groups have met
© Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire through Getty Pictures
The Boston Bruins and Toronto Maple Leafs will play Recreation 7 of the Japanese Convention First Spherical at TD Backyard in Boston on Saturday (8 p.m.; ABC, ESPN+, SN, TVAS, CBC).
Toronto pushed the sequence to the restrict by profitable Recreation 6 at dwelling 2-1 on Thursday.
“If somebody informed us initially of the season that we’d be [in] Recreation 7 at dwelling in opposition to Toronto, we’d take that every one day,” Bruins captain Brad Marchand mentioned. “So it doesn’t matter the way you get there. We’re there. Gotta present up.”
It’s the fourth straight sequence the groups have performed in opposition to one another that shall be determined in seven video games. Boston has gained the earlier three (2013, 2018, 2019).
The winner will advance to the Japanese Convention Second Spherical and play the Florida Panthers, who defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning in 5 video games of their best-of-7 first-round sequence.
The Bruins (47-20-15), the No. 2 seed from the Atlantic Division, or Maple Leafs (46-26-10), the No. 3 seed, would begin the sequence on the street in opposition to the Panthers (52-24-6), the No. 1 seed.
“In my thoughts, we simply performed two Recreation 7s,” Maple Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe mentioned. “It’s an elimination recreation. … It seems like what we’ve simply gone by means of the place each single play issues. You anticipate it to be tight. On the finish of the day, all we’ve earned is one other recreation on the schedule. Nearly as good as this feels and as happy with the group as you’re for the hassle they’ve put forth and the outcomes they’ve gotten and the way they’ve carried out in these couple video games to earn this subsequent recreation, all we’ve finished is earned that one. So for the primary time now we are going to go into Boston and every little thing is all the identical when it comes to each groups going through elimination.”
Boston is 15-15 in Recreation 7 in its historical past, together with 14-10 at dwelling. The Bruins misplaced at dwelling to the Panthers 4-3 in extra time in Recreation 7 of the primary spherical final season and have misplaced their previous three Recreation 7s.
“There’s all the time optimism. There’s the chance to play in a Recreation 7,” Bruins coach Jim Montgomery mentioned. “You grew up all of your life wanting … to be part of it. We now have an opportunity to be part of it. We’re gonna be in entrance of our nice crowd. It’s extraordinarily loud. And we’ve received to go in there and we’ve received to dig in.”
Marchand is 6-5 in Recreation 7 with seven factors (three objectives, 4 assists). Ahead Pat Maroon is 4-3 with a purpose and an help. Forwards Charlie Coyle, Jake DeBrusk, James van Riemsdyk and David Pastrnak and defenseman Charlie McAvoy every is 2-3.
Goalie Jeremy Swayman misplaced every of his two Recreation 7s, permitting seven objectives on 62 pictures (3.34 goals-against common, .887 save share). Linus Ullmark has not performed in a Recreation 7.
“We’re anticipating their greatest. And we’re anticipating our greatest. And that’s what makes Recreation 7 so enjoyable and particular,” Swayman mentioned.
Montgomery is 0-2 in Recreation 7.
Toronto is 12-14 in Recreation 7, together with 5-11 on the street. The Maple Leafs misplaced their most up-to-date Recreation 7, 2-1 in opposition to the Lightning at dwelling within the first spherical in 2022, and have misplaced their previous 5 Recreation 7s.
Defenseman Joel Edmundson is 5-0 in 5 Recreation 7, and ahead Ryan Reaves is 4-1. Heart Auston Matthews, forwards Mitch Marner and William Nylander and defenseman Morgan Rielly every is 0-4. Heart John Tavares is 0-3.
Goalies Ilya Samsonov and Joseph Woll have by no means performed in a Recreation 7. Martin Jones, who performed 22 video games for the Maple Leafs through the common season however has not appeared within the playoffs, is 3-0 in Recreation 7 with a 1.82 GAA, .931 save share and one shutout.
Keefe is 0-2 in Recreation 7s.
There have been three Recreation 7s within the 2023 first spherical, with the street crew profitable two of them.
“That is why we play hockey. That’s the fantastic thing about the game,” Pastrnak mentioned. “Recreation 7s. Work the entire season so we now have the benefit of being dwelling. We’re gonna get dwelling and prepare for Recreation 7.”
NHL.com workers author Amalie Benjamin and impartial correspondent Dave McCarthy contributed to this report
🔹 Florida Panthers vs. Tampa Bay Lightning
🔹 Boston Bruins vs. Toronto Maple Leafs
🔹 New York Rangers vs. Washington Capitals
🔹 Carolina Hurricanes vs. New York Islanders
🔹 Dallas Stars vs. Vegas Golden Knights
🔹 Winnipeg Jets vs. Colorado Avalanche
🔹 Vancouver Canucks vs. Nashville Predators
🔹 Edmonton Oilers vs. Los Angeles Kings

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