Boston has defeated Toronto in winner-take-all recreation previous 3 occasions groups have met
©<\/span> 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.
\u201cIf somebody informed us initially of the season that we\u2019d be [in] Recreation 7 at dwelling in opposition to Toronto, we\u2019d take that every one day,\u201d Bruins captain Brad Marchand<\/a> mentioned. \u201cSo it doesn\u2019t matter the way you get there. We\u2019re there. Gotta present up.\u201d
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.
\u201cIn my thoughts, we simply performed two Recreation 7s,” Maple Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe mentioned. “It\u2019s an elimination recreation. … It seems like what we\u2019ve 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\u2019ve 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\u2019ve put forth and the outcomes they\u2019ve gotten and the way they\u2019ve carried out in these couple video games to earn this subsequent recreation, all we\u2019ve 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.\u201d
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.
\u201cThere\u2019s all the time optimism. There\u2019s the chance to play in a Recreation 7,\u201d Bruins coach Jim Montgomery mentioned. \u201cYou grew up all of your life wanting \u2026 to be part of it. We now have an opportunity to be part of it. We\u2019re gonna be in entrance of our nice crowd. It\u2019s extraordinarily loud. And we\u2019ve received to go in there and we\u2019ve received to dig in.\u201d
Marchand is 6-5 in Recreation 7 with seven factors (three objectives, 4 assists). Ahead Pat Maroon<\/a> is 4-3 with a purpose and an help. Forwards Charlie Coyle<\/a>, Jake DeBrusk<\/a>, James van Riemsdyk<\/a> and David Pastrnak<\/a> and defenseman Charlie McAvoy<\/a> every is 2-3.
Goalie Jeremy Swayman<\/a> misplaced every of his two Recreation 7s, permitting seven objectives on 62 pictures (3.34 goals-against common, .887 save share). Linus Ullmark<\/a> has not performed in a Recreation 7.
\u201cWe\u2019re anticipating their greatest. And we\u2019re anticipating our greatest. And that\u2019s what makes Recreation 7 so enjoyable and particular,\u201d 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<\/a> is 5-0 in 5 Recreation 7, and ahead Ryan Reaves<\/a> is 4-1. Heart Auston Matthews<\/a>, forwards Mitch Marner<\/a> and William Nylander<\/a> and defenseman Morgan Rielly<\/a> every is 0-4. Heart John Tavares<\/a> is 0-3.
Goalies Ilya Samsonov<\/a> and Joseph Woll<\/a> have by no means performed in a Recreation 7. Martin Jones<\/a>, 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.
\u201cThat is why we play hockey. That\u2019s the fantastic thing about the game,” Pastrnak mentioned. “Recreation 7s. Work the entire season so we now have the benefit of being dwelling. We\u2019re gonna get dwelling and prepare for Recreation 7.\u201d
NHL.com workers author Amalie Benjamin and impartial correspondent Dave McCarthy contributed to this report<\/em>
\ud83d\udd39 Florida Panthers vs. Tampa Bay Lightning<\/a>
\ud83d\udd39 Boston Bruins vs. Toronto Maple Leafs<\/a>
\ud83d\udd39 New York Rangers vs. Washington Capitals<\/a>
\ud83d\udd39 Carolina Hurricanes vs. New York Islanders<\/a>
\ud83d\udd39 Dallas Stars vs. Vegas Golden Knights<\/a>
\ud83d\udd39 Winnipeg Jets vs. Colorado Avalanche<\/a>
\ud83d\udd39 Vancouver Canucks vs. Nashville Predators<\/a>
\ud83d\udd39 Edmonton Oilers vs. Los Angeles Kings<\/a><\/p>\n