The Leafs Win! Game 1 Recap
Be still, my heart.
Yes, the Leafs defeated the Bruins 4-1 on the road to open the first round series in style. But it's only Game 1. I promised I wouldn't get carried away so early.
But...
WE BEAT THE F****** BRUINS IN BOSTON!!! SCORED 4 STRAIGHT GOALS TO DO IT!!! THIS WAS OUR FIRST GAME 1 WIN IN A PLAYOFF SERIES SINCE 2003!!! HOW EXCITING IS THAT???
Okay, on to the recap.
A Perfect Road Game
Man, this was a beautiful game to watch, as good a road playoff game as a team could play to open a playoff series: very steady, nothing fancy, in full control, especially while protecting the 3-1 lead in the third.
There was some nervous energy early in the game, and it was almost palpable through my computer monitor. I was a bit surprised that the Bruins weren't all that physical coming out of the gate and if anything, they didn't seem to have much bounce in their strides. Maybe the crowd sensed they'd be in for a long night.
The tension early on was almost unbearable for me. We made a few outlet pass attempts from deep in our own zone that ended up in icing calls. Not much offense early as the teams were still feeling each other out. We last faced those guys in January, so that's maybe understandable.
Then Nylander took a foolish, retaliatory high-sticking penalty and the Bruins got a PPG from Bergeron midway through the first.
Oh, that sinking feeling. Thoughts going through my mind at that point were things like, "Here we go again" and "I knew it. I knew it. I knew we couldn't beat these guys!" and "That Bergeron. Can't stand the guy." And a million other things.
But that something clicked on our end. The boys didn't panic. We would go on to dominate 5-on-5 play the rest of the day (more on that later). And the tying goal came at even strength, as Marner pounced on a rebound after Muzzin's shot went off the iron.
Marner then scored on a penalty shot while killing a penalty. I have written about how he's developed into an underrated penalty killer over the second half of the season. His speed, hockey sense and nose for the puck make him a one-man breakaway threat on PK. He used all of his assets and more in this one, as he stripped DeBrusk of the puck at the blue line and skated in alone on Rask before DeBrusk took him down from behind to set up the penalty shot.
And Mitch showed such great patience to beat Rask with a pretty deke. A whole new game.
Speed Kills
Nylander's insurance goal late in the second came on a gorgeous feed from Kadri that split the D.
And during the final seconds of the period, we had a couple more breakaway opportunities, as we continued to capitalize on our superior speed and skills. It could easily have been 5-1 at the end of the second period.
If I were a Bruins fan, I'd be worried about the D corps after watching Game 1. Man, those guys looked a step or two slower. Watching the Nylander goal again, I still can't believe the Bruins, such a proud defensive club, gave us that much space in a game they were trailing. I mean, Naz deserves credit for making that pass and Willie did a great job finding that open space. But still, you can't give a team like the Leafs that much room and hope to win a game.
Babcock didn't get caught up in matching up lines. Other than sending JT's top line toe-to-toe against Bergeron's unit, Babs seemed okay with sending any of the other three lines over the board regardless of which Boston line was out there.
And our 4th line of Moore-Gauthier-Brown did an excellent job keeping the puck deep in the offensive zone and killing the clock in the third. And like other lines all day, they proved elusive against the plodding D.
Chara was called for one penalty but man, this guy got away with a few more. Yes, it's the playoffs and yes, he's a veteran guy. I suppose he's paid his dues and he's earned that right to wreak havoc on the opponents without getting called for every hit, push, shove, hook, etc.
I guess he was mostly forced to grab and clutch in this one because he couldn't skate with our forwards.
5-on-5 Play
The vaunted Bergeron line had 30 points in seven games in last year's first round. And when Marchand set up Bergeron for that power play marker in the first, the trio seemed to be on their way to another dominant game or series.
But they ended up a combined -6 (-2 each) in this one. Tavares set up shop at the top of the crease and in the corners all day, and his hard work was rewarded with an empty-netter (which itself was the result of a smart face-off play). JT's unit spent far more time on the offensive end than the opposing line, producing more shots and chances and winning 9 of 17 draws.
I'd be shocked if the Bruins don't bounce back with a better effort in Game 2. We played an awesome road game in Game 1 but man, those other guys didn't really show up.
My Three Stars
1. Mitch Marner
: What more can I say? Scoring the equalizer and putting in some great penalty killing effort to set himself up a penalty shot opportunity, and planting seeds of doubt in the Bruins bench. He was a consistent offensive force during the regular season and I expect nothing less from him the rest of the way.
2. Freddie Andersen
: Made 37 saves and this was easily his best game in weeks. Looked to be in his "Steady Freddie" midseason form. The thing I like about him the most is how calm and poised he always looks even as he makes tough saves. Some goalies make some saves look far more dramatic than they really are. Freddie has this way of making tough saves look easy because he is so calm and he doesn't flail his limbs in the process. It's a cliche that you can only go as far as your goalie can take your team in the playoffs. Freddie withstood some pressure to keep us ahead in the second period, and fortunately, he wasn't as busy in the third as we took full control.
3. Jake Muzzin
: I had my issues with Muzzin's play late in the regular season but man, he was our best D-man in this game. Played a lot against the Bergeron line, and kept breaking the cycle down low and made some outstanding passes out of the zone. He was just the steady and stable veteran that we thought we were getting from LA in a trade. And this man has been through playoff battles before. During the Kings' Stanley Cup in 2014, they went the distance in each of the first three rounds before dispatching the Rangers in five in the final. That's 26 grueling games. And Muzzin was one of the best D-men in that march, scoring goals, blocking shots, hitting bodies, etc, etc. Here's hoping he can be that type of defenseman once again.
Yes, the Leafs defeated the Bruins 4-1 on the road to open the first round series in style. But it's only Game 1. I promised I wouldn't get carried away so early.
But...
WE BEAT THE F****** BRUINS IN BOSTON!!! SCORED 4 STRAIGHT GOALS TO DO IT!!! THIS WAS OUR FIRST GAME 1 WIN IN A PLAYOFF SERIES SINCE 2003!!! HOW EXCITING IS THAT???
Okay, on to the recap.
A Perfect Road Game
Man, this was a beautiful game to watch, as good a road playoff game as a team could play to open a playoff series: very steady, nothing fancy, in full control, especially while protecting the 3-1 lead in the third.
There was some nervous energy early in the game, and it was almost palpable through my computer monitor. I was a bit surprised that the Bruins weren't all that physical coming out of the gate and if anything, they didn't seem to have much bounce in their strides. Maybe the crowd sensed they'd be in for a long night.
The tension early on was almost unbearable for me. We made a few outlet pass attempts from deep in our own zone that ended up in icing calls. Not much offense early as the teams were still feeling each other out. We last faced those guys in January, so that's maybe understandable.
Then Nylander took a foolish, retaliatory high-sticking penalty and the Bruins got a PPG from Bergeron midway through the first.
Oh, that sinking feeling. Thoughts going through my mind at that point were things like, "Here we go again" and "I knew it. I knew it. I knew we couldn't beat these guys!" and "That Bergeron. Can't stand the guy." And a million other things.
But that something clicked on our end. The boys didn't panic. We would go on to dominate 5-on-5 play the rest of the day (more on that later). And the tying goal came at even strength, as Marner pounced on a rebound after Muzzin's shot went off the iron.
Marner then scored on a penalty shot while killing a penalty. I have written about how he's developed into an underrated penalty killer over the second half of the season. His speed, hockey sense and nose for the puck make him a one-man breakaway threat on PK. He used all of his assets and more in this one, as he stripped DeBrusk of the puck at the blue line and skated in alone on Rask before DeBrusk took him down from behind to set up the penalty shot.
And Mitch showed such great patience to beat Rask with a pretty deke. A whole new game.
Speed Kills
Nylander's insurance goal late in the second came on a gorgeous feed from Kadri that split the D.
And during the final seconds of the period, we had a couple more breakaway opportunities, as we continued to capitalize on our superior speed and skills. It could easily have been 5-1 at the end of the second period.
If I were a Bruins fan, I'd be worried about the D corps after watching Game 1. Man, those guys looked a step or two slower. Watching the Nylander goal again, I still can't believe the Bruins, such a proud defensive club, gave us that much space in a game they were trailing. I mean, Naz deserves credit for making that pass and Willie did a great job finding that open space. But still, you can't give a team like the Leafs that much room and hope to win a game.
Babcock didn't get caught up in matching up lines. Other than sending JT's top line toe-to-toe against Bergeron's unit, Babs seemed okay with sending any of the other three lines over the board regardless of which Boston line was out there.
And our 4th line of Moore-Gauthier-Brown did an excellent job keeping the puck deep in the offensive zone and killing the clock in the third. And like other lines all day, they proved elusive against the plodding D.
Chara was called for one penalty but man, this guy got away with a few more. Yes, it's the playoffs and yes, he's a veteran guy. I suppose he's paid his dues and he's earned that right to wreak havoc on the opponents without getting called for every hit, push, shove, hook, etc.
I guess he was mostly forced to grab and clutch in this one because he couldn't skate with our forwards.
5-on-5 Play
The vaunted Bergeron line had 30 points in seven games in last year's first round. And when Marchand set up Bergeron for that power play marker in the first, the trio seemed to be on their way to another dominant game or series.
But they ended up a combined -6 (-2 each) in this one. Tavares set up shop at the top of the crease and in the corners all day, and his hard work was rewarded with an empty-netter (which itself was the result of a smart face-off play). JT's unit spent far more time on the offensive end than the opposing line, producing more shots and chances and winning 9 of 17 draws.
I'd be shocked if the Bruins don't bounce back with a better effort in Game 2. We played an awesome road game in Game 1 but man, those other guys didn't really show up.
My Three Stars
1. Mitch Marner
: What more can I say? Scoring the equalizer and putting in some great penalty killing effort to set himself up a penalty shot opportunity, and planting seeds of doubt in the Bruins bench. He was a consistent offensive force during the regular season and I expect nothing less from him the rest of the way.
2. Freddie Andersen
: Made 37 saves and this was easily his best game in weeks. Looked to be in his "Steady Freddie" midseason form. The thing I like about him the most is how calm and poised he always looks even as he makes tough saves. Some goalies make some saves look far more dramatic than they really are. Freddie has this way of making tough saves look easy because he is so calm and he doesn't flail his limbs in the process. It's a cliche that you can only go as far as your goalie can take your team in the playoffs. Freddie withstood some pressure to keep us ahead in the second period, and fortunately, he wasn't as busy in the third as we took full control.
3. Jake Muzzin
: I had my issues with Muzzin's play late in the regular season but man, he was our best D-man in this game. Played a lot against the Bergeron line, and kept breaking the cycle down low and made some outstanding passes out of the zone. He was just the steady and stable veteran that we thought we were getting from LA in a trade. And this man has been through playoff battles before. During the Kings' Stanley Cup in 2014, they went the distance in each of the first three rounds before dispatching the Rangers in five in the final. That's 26 grueling games. And Muzzin was one of the best D-men in that march, scoring goals, blocking shots, hitting bodies, etc, etc. Here's hoping he can be that type of defenseman once again.
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