Right here we go once more. For the seventeenth time, the Bruins and Maple Leafs will meet within the Stanley Cup playoffs.
The sequence, which begins on Saturday evening, marks the third time the 2 Authentic Six franchises will meet within the first spherical since Boston’s iconic Recreation 7 comeback in 2013.
Positive, the Black and Gold have received the previous six conferences between the 2 golf equipment and have even received seven straight regular-season video games relationship again to the 2022-23 season, but when the Leafs have it their approach, they’ll lastly exorcise their demons and clinch their first postseason sequence over the Bruins since 1959.
One in all Toronto’s largest weaknesses within the sequence is certain to be highlighted by what has been one in all Boston’s strengths for the previous two seasons — goaltending.
Story continues under commercial
Extra Bruins
Bruins netminders Linus Ullmark and Jeremy Swayman each rank within the prime 10 of all NHL goalies in objectives saved above anticipated with no less than 20 video games this season. Swayman was tied for fifth within the league with a .916 save proportion, and Ullmark was proper behind him, ending the common season at .915. Each Boston goalies additionally completed within the prime 10 in goals-against common. Swayman posted a 2.53 for eighth greatest within the league, adopted by Ullmark’s 2.57 which was ok for ninth.
Toronto’s goaltending tandem didn’t truthful fairly as effectively.
Ilya Samsonov received 23 video games for the Leafs however completed the common season with a .890 save proportion and a 3.13 goals-against common. His goals-against common ranked him fortieth amongst NHL goalies who began no less than 20 video games. Joseph Woll had higher stats than Samsonov, a .907 save proportion, and a 2.94 goals-against common in 25 begins, however he nonetheless ranked outdoors of the highest 30 within the league.
Whereas any goalie can flip right into a brick wall and stand on their head within the postseason to steal a sport or perhaps a sequence, at five-on-five, Boston has saved a collective 36 objectives above anticipated, which is sweet for second within the league behind solely the Winnipeg Jets.
Story continues under commercial
Bruins head coach Jim Montgomery has but to disclose who the Recreation 1 starter could be, however he may go both approach and be assured that Boston goes to get sound netminding.
