Achi news desk-
Toronto Maple Leaf. Boston Bruins. Saturday night. Game 7.
It didn’t necessarily pan out the way we might have expected, but in many ways, it felt like it was always going to come down to this (8 p.m. EST, Sportsnet/CBC/ESPN).
To get where you want to go in life, you usually have to triumph over your biggest obstacles. For over a decade now, no bigger obstacle has been hanging over this franchise than a Game 7 in Boston. Tonight, the Leaves have another chance to slay the dragon.
This is an opportunity the Leafs have earned. After going down 3-1 in the series, the Leafs have earned full marks in back-to-back wins to keep their season alive, tightening up defensively, getting stability in net from Joseph Woll, and scoring enough to win both games. .
Sheldon Keefe even tinkered with a winning lineup, swapping out Ryan Reaves for Noah Gregor and moving up Kampf and Dewar to play alongside Jarnkrok in a game-checking role against the Bruins’ third line which has thrown some fits for them in this series, and it turned out to be an inspired move.
Now, it’s possible that Auston Matthews is back for Game 7, and they’ll have to shake things up again if that’s the case (and yes, of course, they should sit someone like Noah Gregor so that Matthews can play). If he’s still not ready – and Sheldon Keefe indicated as much – then it should be business as usual for a Leafs team that has won two straight and quick momentum in this series. The winning formula is there regardless of who is playing.
On the Bruins side, it looks like Danton Heinen and Andrew Peeke could be back. Lineup changes are expected on their side, given their losses, and they’ve even changed their morning skating routine to try to shake out of their rut. They are struggling at the moment, and the first goal in this game is even more important, given where the two teams stand.
Maple Leafs keys to Game 7
via Anthony Petrielli
– I’m not sure if Boston is going to be nervous or come out with guns blazing at home, but I don’t care either way. The Leafs should stick to what works: get the pucks deep, cause turnovers on the forward-beck, slow the game down, and grind them in ozone. Road game recipe.
– The PP needs sorting. If the first one goes bad with the regular crew, change it. Either start PP2 or mix the units, but they need something to break them up. The Bruins do a good job pressing a half wall + point, so work it low and crash the net.
– The PK needs to keep swarming.
– In 5v5, the Leafs’ D has been excellent in defending their blue line, and the forwards track back very well. They make it very difficult for BOS to get through. They need to continue that.
– Keep it simple on breakout sessions, and don’t give Boston anything easy. Take it out if necessary.
– Game 7 should not be about heroes; it should mean that everyone does their job and contributes for the good of the team. Everyone has a role to play and they have to play a part to get where they want to go. Sacrifice.
– Have some fun
– Kill the dragon.
Maple Leafs vs. Bruins — Shot Attempts Series and Heatmap (5v5)
Projected Lines of the Toronto Maple Leaf*
Forward
#59 Tyler Bertuzzi – #11 Max Domi – #16 Mitch Marner
#23 Matthew Knies – #91 John Tavares – #88 William Nylander
#29 Pontus Holmberg – #34 Auston Matthews – #19 Calle Jarnkrok
#24 Connor Dewar – #64 David Kampf – #18 Noah Gregor
Defenders
#44 Morgan Rielly – #46 Ilya Lyubushkin
#2 Simon Benoit – #22 Jake McCabe
#20 Joel Edmundson – #37 Timothy Liljegren
Goaltenders
Starter: #35 Ilya Samsonov
#30 Martin Jones
Additions: Nick Robertson, TJ Brodie, Mark Giordano, Conor Timmins, Ryan Reaves, Martin Jones, Cade Webber
Injured/Out: Bobby McMann, Joseph Woll
Boston Bruins Projected Lines*
Forward
#18 Pavel Zacha – #39 Morgan Geeke – #88 David Pastrnak
#63 Brad Marchand – #13 Charlie Coyle – #74 Jake DeBrusk
#21 James Van Riemsdyk – #11 Trent Frederic – #55 Justin Brazeau
#19 John Beecher – #70 Jesper Boqvist – #61 Patrick Maroon
Defenders
#6 Mason Lohrei – #73 Charlie McAvoy
#27 Hampus Lindholm – #25 Brandon Carlo
#29 Parker Wotherspoon – #12 Kevin Shattenkirk
Goaltenders
To start: #1 Jeremy Swayman
#35 Linus Ullmark
Additions: Matt Grzelcyk, Derek Forbort, Jakub Lauko
Injured/Out: Andrew Peeke, Danton Heinen, Milan Lucic
*Note: Come playoff time, with neither coach in the works on lineup decisions or injury situations, the final lineups won’t be known until close to puck drop.
Ad blocking test (Why?)
Source link
Related
