NHL Morning Skate: Stanley Cup Playoffs Edition – April 25, 2018
Bruins, Maple Leafs set for fourth Game 7 meeting; Game 1 scenarios announced for Second Round
NHL Public Relations
April 25, 2018
NHL.com Media Site
For Immediate Release
BRUINS TO HOST MAPLE LEAFS IN GAME 7 TONIGHT
The First Round of the 2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs will come to a dramatic close on Wednesday when the Bruins host the Maple Leafs in Game 7 at TD Garden in Boston – the lone remaining game of the opening round.
* The winner of Wednesday's showdown will advance to the Second Round and face the Lightning, the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference.
* The Bruins hold an all-time record of 13-12 in Game 7s, including a 12-8 mark on home ice. This will mark Boston’s 26th appearance in a Game 7, breaking a tie with Detroit (25) for the most in NHL history. The Maple Leafs own an all-time record of 12-10 in Game 7s, including a 5-9 mark on the road.
* Bruins defenseman
Zdeno Chara will be making his 12th career Game 7 appearance, the most among active players and one behind all-time leaders
Patrick Roy and
Scott Stevens (13).
GAME 7 HISTORY: BOSTON VS. TORONTO
Boston holds a 2-1 edge in three previous head-to-head Game 7 matchups against Toronto, with each decided by one goal:
May 13, 2013 in Boston – Bruins 5, Maple Leafs 4 (OT)
* The Maple Leafs rallied from a 3-1 series deficit to force a Game 7 against the Bruins in the
2013 Conference Quarterfinals. Boston closed out the series by becoming the first team in NHL history to overcome a three-goal, third-period deficit to win in a Game 7. Bruins forward
Patrice Bergeron had a legendary performance in the final contest, recording 2-1—3 including the tying goal with 51 seconds remaining in regulation and the overtime winner.
* A total of 11 players on the current Bruins and Maple Leafs rosters skated in that game – seven from Boston (Bergeron,
Zdeno Chara,
Anton Khudobin,
David Krejci,
Brad Marchand,
Adam McQuaid and
Tuukka Rask) and four from Toronto (
Jake Gardiner,
Nazem Kadri,
Leo Komarov and
James van Riemsdyk).
April 7, 1959 in Boston – Maple Leafs 3, Bruins 2
* The Maple Leafs trailed 2-1 heading into the third period of
Game 7 in the 1959 Semifinals before
Bob Pulford and
Gerry Ehman scored in the final frame – with Ehman’s winner coming with just 2:33 remaining in regulation – to give Toronto a 3-2 victory and a berth in the Stanley Cup Final (4-1 L vs. MTL). Ehman, who would eventually capture his lone career Stanley Cup with Toronto in 1964, led all skaters in the Maple Leafs-Bruins series with 6-3—9.
GAME 7 QUICK HITS
Of the 169 all-time Game 7s in the Stanley Cup Playoffs:
* The team that scores first is 126-43 (.746).
* Home teams own a 99-70 (.586) advantage.
* Forty-one have required overtime (24.2%). Home teams have a 21-20 edge.
Wednesday Game 7 preview: Toronto Maple Leafs at Boston Bruins
Zdeno Chara and Mitch Marner matchup to watch at TD Garden.
Wednesday Game 7 preview: Toronto Maple Leafs at Boston Bruins | The Star
Leafs goalie Frederik Andersen stops Rick Nash of the Bruins, with help from defenceman Roman Polak in Game 6 of their opening-round playoff series. Game 7 goes Wednesday night. (
Steve Russell / Toronto Star)
By
Kevin McGranSports Reporter
Tues., April 24, 2018
TD GARDEN
FACEOFF: 7:30 p.m.
TV: CBC
Series tied 3-3
KEY PLAYERS
Chara/Marner
David vs. Goliath. Bruins defenceman
Zdeno Chara’s six-foot-nine, 250-pound frame and long reach will try to contain wiry Leafs winger
Mitch Marner — six feet tall, 175 pounds and bouncing off every check. Chara leads the Bruins in ice time per game (22:35), while Marner tops the Leafs in scoring with two goals and eight assists.
NEED TO KNOW
The Bruins’ top line of
Patrice Bergeron,
David Pastrnak and
Brad Marchand combined for 23 points and are plus-20 in Boston’s three wins, but zero points and minus-16 in three losses ... Boston coach
Bruce Cassidy said after Game 6 that he’d consider playing rookie
Ryan Donato in Game 7, but appears to have backed off. In practice Tuesday, the Bruins moved
Rick Nash off the second line, putting him with
Riley Nash and
David Backes in an attempt to spread their scoring around ...
Danton Heinen moved to the second line with
David Krejci and
Jake DeBrusk.
UP NEXT
Winner plays the Tampa Bay Lightning in round two.