At TD Garden on Saturday night, the Boston Bruins performed how they were expected to. The Maple Leafs of Toronto did not.
Regardless of how we interpret the events of Game 1 of the best-of-seven between the two clubs, the Maple Leafs’ inability to play to their identity was what set them apart from pucks on the ice and the Bruins on the scoreboard.
The first goal of the game was a combination between Johnny Beecher and Jesper Boqvist, set loose by Pat Maroon, the newest fan favorite in Boston.
Identity verification: velocity.
Verify identity with opportunism.
Combined, these talents have contributed significantly to the Bruins’ offensive success this season. Jake DeBrusk’s game also featured speed and opportunism at the perfect moment. Every time Jim Montgomery sent Jakub Lauko over the boards on a hunting trip, it manifested itself.
Identity check: The Toronto Maple Leafs had frustration in their game, whereas the Boston Bruins had glue. Left-side players Matt Grzelcyk (17:04, no goals against) and Hampus Lindholm (assist, game-best plus-3 in 20:09 ice time) were crucial to the Bruins’ comeback and breakout performance. They were both quite smart.
Like any significant game, there were incidents and turning points in Game 1.
Before the Bruins established a rhythm, Jeremy Swayman (35 saves) made two key stops in the east end. Once they did, Boston’s first shot was a goal by Beecher, and there was no turning back.
Ilya Samsonov (19 saves on 23 shots) was forced to move from left to right at the west end in an attempt to stop Beecher’s shot, but his defender caught him in that shifting position.
The next danger for Toronto came from a Calle Jarnkrok partial breakaway that Swayman stopped.
Auston Matthews grabbed a puck that Swayman left his crease to chase after he collided with Charlie McAvoy in the second period, sending the Boston defenseman to the ground. Matthews’ long-range wrist shot, albeit at an acute angle, pinged the far post.
A game that was only an inch from being tied at one point became two minutes later when Brandon Carlo’s right-point attempt slipped through a labyrinth.
The Canadian television program “That’s Hockey” has been producing scenes similar to this for quite some time.
In the first period, the Bruins also scored goals against posts.
It wouldn’t take long for Matthews’ inadvertent stick in McAvoy’s face to ruin Toronto’s next offensive drive. At that moment, hellraisers Tyler Bertuzzi and Max Domi were giving the Leafs their best cycling of the evening.
What takes place? The first of two powerplay goals for DeBrusk.
By the time the score reached 3-0, all of the cautious plays, pucks that bounced and spun, and near-misses started to blend into a larger picture of this game.
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