05/04/24 10:40:00
Printable Page
05/04 22:38 CDT David Pastrnak scores in overtime to lift Bruins to Game 7 win
over rival Maple Leafs
David Pastrnak scores in overtime to lift Bruins to Game 7 win over rival Maple
Leafs
By KYLE HIGHTOWER
AP Sports Writer
BOSTON (AP) --- David Pastrnak scored on a feed from Hampus Lindholm 1:54 into
overtime and the Boston Bruins beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 2-1 in Game 7 on
Saturday night to clinch their first-round series and advance in the NHL
playoffs.
Jeremy Swayman finished with 30 saves and Lindholm had the tying goal in
regulation to help the Bruins avoid losing their second straight first-round
series after holding a 3-1 lead. They have now defeated the rival Maple Leafs
in Game 7 of the first round of the playoffs three times in the last seven
years.
Boston will meet the Florida Panthers, who upset the Bruins in seven games in
the first round last year and spoiled a season in which they posted records for
the most wins and points in a season in NHL history. Game 1 is set for Monday
night in Florida. The Panthers have been resting since Tuesday, when they
eliminated Tampa Bay in five games.
William Nylander scored and Auston Matthews had an assist in his return from a
two-game absence for the Maple Leafs, who are now 0-6 in Game 7s since the 2013
conference quarterfinals. They are 0-4 on the road in those games -- all in
Boston. Matthews missed Games 5 and 6 with an undisclosed ailment.
Ilya Samsonov started in goal for the first time since Game 4 and finished with
29 saves. James van Riemsdyk and Justin Brazeau also had assists.
Samsonov got the nod in place of Joseph Woll, who was ruled out prior to the
game for what the team said was an injury he sustained in Game 6.
Samsonov allowed 12 goals over the first four games. Woll stepped in and gave
up just two in Toronto's Game 5 and 6 victories.
It was redemption for Pastrnak, who entered the night with two goals and two
assists through the first six games
The Maple Leafs broke the scoring drought at 9:01 of the third period when
Matthews corralled a loose puck that was mishandled by Tyler Bertuzzi in the
zone and flipped it to a cutting Nylander, who beat Swayman for his third goal
of the series.
But the Bruins responded just over a minute later when Lindholm muscled in a
ricochet in front of the net to tie it back up at 1-all.
The Bruins had plenty of good luck charms inside TD Garden for Game 7.
Retired captain Patrice Bergeron waved the Bruins' flag prior to the game.
Celtics star Jayson Tatum and coach Joe Mazzulla were also in attendance and
shown on the video screen, drawing a loud ovation.
The extra energy in the building found its way to the ice.
The Bruins were on the attack early on, holding an 11-8 edge through the
opening 20 minutes after being outshot 23-3 during the first period over Games
5 and 6.
___
AP NHL playoffs: https://apnews.com/hub/stanley-cup and
https://www.apnews.com/hub/NHL
___
|