Achi news desk-
Opposing View
The Maple Leafs finished third in the Atlantic Division with 102 points, seven behind the Bruins. Toronto has a strong offensive attack, ranking second in the league in goals per game (3.67) and seventh on the power play (24.0%). On the defensive side, Toronto allowed 3.18 goals per game, ranking 21st in the NHL. They were tied with the Predators for 22nd on the penalty kill of 76.9%.
“Offensively, they’re a talented hockey club,” Bruins GM Don Sweeney said. “They present a lot of challenges down around the net front area, and we’re going to have to be very sharp there. We’re a pretty good team defensively when we stick to our principles, so I expect it to be a tight series overall.
“Obviously, their power play is really good, our penalty kill has been pretty consistent all year, our power play needs to come back online here. Fortunately, we scored a goal the other night to hopefully give the boys a bit of confidence.
“It’s going to be a very good challenge on every level. Good hockey club, good opponent. If you are, if you’ve made the playoffs, you’ve earned a right here … and Toronto will present a very good challenge.”
Toronto is paced by its talented core group of Auston Matthews, William Nylander, Mitch Marner, John Tavares, and Morgan Rielly. Matthews led the NHL with 69 goals this season, one shy of becoming the first player to hit 70 since Teemu Selane and Alexander Mogilny in 1992-93. His 107 points ranked sixth in the league, three points back of Pastrnak.
“A lot of skill, a lot of skill and a lot of competition,” McAvoy said of Matthews. “And it’s going to be a big challenge for us going forward.”
Meanwhile, Nylander was ranked 10thed in the NHL in scoring with 98 points (40 goals, 58 points), although he missed Toronto’s practice on Friday and his status for Game 1 is in question, per media reports. Marner was 22 years oldf with 85 points (26 points, 59 assists). Tavares finished fourth on the Maple Leafs in scoring with 65 points (29 goals, 36 assists) and Rielly was fifth with 58 points (7 goals, 51 assists).
Former Bruins forward Tyler Bertuzzi was seventh in team scoring with 43 points and fifth in goals with 21.
“We can’t turn pucks over and force plays,” Bruins winger Pat Maroon said. “We can’t let them go in the transition game. They do a good job behind the net and soft plays, so we have to find ways to limit that, limit their time and space and be harder on their skills , and find ways to limit their time.”
Toronto’s Friday practice lineup:
ON
Tyler Bertuzzi – Auston Matthews – Max Domi
Matthew Knies – John Tavares – Mitch Marner
Nick Robertson – Pontus Holmberg – Calle Jarnkrok
Connor Dewar – David Kampf – Ryan Reaves
Noah Gregor
DEFENSES
Morgan Rielly – Ilya Lybushkin
Simon Benoit – Jake McCabe
Joel Edmundson – Timothy Liljegren
Mark Giordano – TJ Brodie
Cade Weber – Connor Timmins
NOTES
Ilya Samsonov
Joseph Woll
Goalie Ilya Samsonov carried the baton goalie with a 23-7-8 record, .890 save percentage and 3.13 goals against average in 40 games. Joseph Woll was 12-11-1 with a .907 save percentage and 2.94 GAA in 25 games.
“I think both teams are very energetic,” B’s blue liner Brandon Carlo said. “Obviously we both have a lot of passion being Original Six teams…the way we come into it with the mindset of it being a physical series at different times, it’s going to be a series crafty at different times, it’s going to be a gritty series. . Each part will have few components. I think whoever can adapt to the other team’s style of play the best will come out of this and be victorious.”
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