By Jordan Long
The Boston Bruins have their 1st-round matchup for the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs. They will face the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Bruins had trouble with this team in the regular season going 1-2-1. The series starts on Thursday.
The Bruins have the home ice advantage in this series which should help. They were an impressive 28-8-5 at home. If this series goes to a game 7, at least Boston would play at home which could help them advance.
The Bruins are going to be tough to beat because of their ability to score. During the regular season they averaged 3.26 goals per game, 6th in the NHL. David Pastrnak leads the team with 35 goals. Brad Marchand and Patrice Bergeron also went over the 30-goal mark this season. The skaters must score early and often. The Maple Leafs are going to have to figure away to shut them down. It won’t be easy because of their speed.
Boston plays decent defensive hockey. When Toronto skates the puck into the defensive zone, the Bruins are able to block shots and poke check the puck away ending scoring chances. This is going to be the key for them in this series. They know if Toronto is able to generate shots, Tuukka Rask will make saves. Rask can’t allow rebound chances. Toronto is talented enough to put those rebounds in the back of the net. He must cover the puck.
What could decide this series are special teams. The Bruins have played well all year on the power play. They take advantage of opponent’s penalties scoring on 23.5% of those opportunities. In this series, they must score on the power play. If they don’t, Toronto might have a chance to win some games and the series.
The Bruins can also kill penalties at 83.7%. Toronto is full of talent with Nazem Kadri James van Riemsdyk, Mitch Marner, and Auston Matthews who can score on the power play. Boston needs to block shots and shoot the puck to the other end to kill time. That will not allow the Maple Leafs to set up the power play.
The Bruins are going to have their hands full against Toronto. The Maple Leafs can score and move the puck around. The Bruins have the experience and need to use their skill. It is going to be a great series to watch. If the Bruins play their game, they should advance to the next round. In a best of 7, anything is possible.
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