Photo Courtesy Of CBS Boston – CBS Local
By: Garrett Haydon | Follow Me On Twitter @thesportsguy97
Pre-Game Notes
Arena: TD Garden, Boston, Massachusetts
Home: Boston Bruins (0-0)
Away: Toronto Maple Leafs (0-0)
Boston’s Lineup
Forwards
Marchand-Bergeron-Pastrnak
DeBrusk-Krejci-Kuhlman
Johansson-Coyle-Heinen
Nordstrom-Acciari-Wagner
Defense
Chara-McAvoy
Krug-Carlo
Grzelcyk-Clifton
Goalies
Rask
Halak
Toronto’s Lineup
Forwards
Hyman-Tavares-Marner
Johnsson-Matthews-Kapanen
Marleau-Kadri-Nylander
Moore-Gauthier-Brown
Defense
Rielly-Hainsey
Muzzin-Zaitsev
Gardiner-Dermott
Goalies
Andersen
Sparks
First Period
Both teams were into it right from puck drop, not giving an inch and moving the puck very confidently. Tuukka Rask was solid in the opening moments as he faced a few good scoring chances and answered them effectively. Neither team had a noticeable advantage in possession in the first moments of the period as both teams were able to move the puck effectively. The Bruins received the first power play of the game as Connor Clifton took a high stick from William Nylander.
After a great pass from Brad Marchand, Patrice Bergeron buried a man advantage goal to give the Bruins the lead with 10:29 to go in the period.
Brad Marchand finds a wide open Patrice Bergeron for the Bruins lead pic.twitter.com/3sT4aCAFUW
— Pete Blackburn (@PeteBlackburn) April 11, 2019
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
The Bruins found some momentum after the goal as they looked to extend the lead. The Leafs became a little scattered in the defensive zone as the Bruins got a couple of great scoring opportunities. The B’s continued to be very solid in the defensive zone, blocking shots and not allowing too many good scoring chances by the Leafs. After a mad scramble in front of the Boston net, Mitch Marner knocked home a loose puck to tie the game with under four minutes remaining in the period.
.@Marner93 really put his whole body into that. #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/4KDsAHHr0L
— NHL GIFs (@NHLGIFs) April 11, 2019
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
Score: Tied 1-1
Second Period
The B’s went to their second power play just moments into the period as Jake DeBrusk took a stick up high from Kasperi Kapanen. After a bad turnover by DeBrusk in the offensive zone, he tripped Marner on the ensuing rush which resulted in a penalty shot for the Leafs. Marner scored his second of the game on a beautiful move to give Toronto their first lead.
Mitch Marner on the penalty shot, making it look easy pic.twitter.com/i4qeA227VI
— SI NHL (@SI_NHL) April 12, 2019
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
The Leafs killed the penalty despite the Bruins moving the puck well on the man advantage. The Bruins continued to the strong puck movement following the goal but couldn’t find the back of the net. Charlie Coyle was especially unlucky as he had multiple great chances in the offensive zone. The Bruins continued to get chances in the offensive zone toward and after the midway point of the period.
The Leafs started to get some chances in the Boston end including Auston Matthews hitting the post behind Rask but the puck stayed out. The Bruins started to move the puck incredibly quickly looking to tie the game but they were unable to string chances together. The Leafs doubled the lead as Nazem Kadri sprung Nylander on a beautiful pass through the neutral zone and Nylander then beat Rask with about two minutes to go in the period.
Sick pass by Kadri springs Nylander on the breakaway pic.twitter.com/CK1a58tvRv
— Pete Blackburn (@PeteBlackburn) April 12, 2019
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
Rask made a gigantic stop on John Tavares on a breakaway to keep the game within striking distance with under a minute left in the period.
Score: 3-1 Leafs
Third Period
The Bruins seemed to be the aggressor in the first few moments of the final period, pushing to get back into the game. The B’s continued to have a hard time generating more than one chance in the offensive zone as the Leafs started to bear down defensively. The fourth line nearly cut into the lead with a great shift towards the midway point of the period but they were unable to capitalize on their multiple chances in front.
The Leafs looked a lot more structured in the neutral zone in the final period as they seemed dead set on not allowing the Bruins to pick up speed into the offensive zone. The Leafs would get their first power play opportunity with 8:15 to go as Zdeno Chara took an interference penalty. The B’s killed it off despite some good chances for the Leafs.
The Leafs defense continued to have a solid final period as they prevented scoring chances by blocking shots and not letting the Bruins get much going in the offensive end. The Bruins pulled Rask with under three minutes to go, down by two goals. Tavares iced it with an empty net goal with 1:19 remaining.
John Tavares 🚨
Off the draw, into the empty net. 4-1. pic.twitter.com/CvcK0kKPac
— Flintor (@TheFlintor) April 12, 2019
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
Final Score: 4-1 Leafs
Three Stars Of The Game
First Star: Marner. The Leafs winger was the best player on the ice in Game 1, scoring twice and playing sound defensive hockey.
Second Star: Frederik Andersen. The Leafs goalie was at his best in Game 1, truly stealing the game for Toronto.
Third Star: Rask. Despite the three goals allowed, Rask was solid at times and kept the Bruins in the game with big stops in the third period.
Interested in going to any Boston Bruins 2019 Stanley Cup Playoff games or the last regular season contests for the Providence Bruins? Take a look at the upcoming schedule and ticket availability from SeatGiant. Click the links below and use discount code BNGP to save a little cash!
—–> Click Here To Get Your Boston Bruins First Round Stanley Cup Playoff Tickets From The Great Folks at SeatGiant! <—-
Leave a Reply