In the face of a potentially disastrous end to the season, Boston Bruins coach Jim Montgomery stood unwavering, boldly prodding his top scorer David Pastrnak, who had been wading morosely into a scoring lull, to find his lost firing power and step up his performance in the gripping Game 7 against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
In a momentous turn of events that can only be described as sheer heroics, Pastrnak delivered with the shot of a sniper, netting the decisive goal off a pass from Hampus Lindholm, just 1:54 minutes into overtime. The Bruins conquered the Maple Leafs 2-1 in Game 7 on Saturday night, clinching their position to playoff further into the NHL playoffs. This marks a classy redemption for the Bruins who had their back against the wall.
This was particularly rewarding for Pastrnak, who heeded the call of duty after faltering in earlier encounters: he had amassed a meager two goals and two assists in the opening six games. His turnaround drew commendation from a clearly impressed Montgomery.
With Montgomery justifiably stating, “This was our best game of the series,” the Bruins clawed their way back from the precipice of bowing out after squandering their leading 3-1 margin. This marks the third time in the last seven years, that the Bruins managed to dump their arch-rival Maple Leafs at this stage of the competition, symbolizing defiance and hunger.
In the midst of such a tight contest, it was Jeremy Swayman and Hampus Lindholm who led the Bruins’ charge, with the former stopping 30 shots while the latter notched up the regulation equalizer. Lindholm’s significant contribution thus saved the Bruins from a consecutive first-round season exit.
The Boston outfit is preparing to face a familiar foe: the formidable Florida Panthers – who entered the annals of hockey history last season after registering an NHL record for most wins and points in a season. Following their upset victory over the Bruins in a seven-match series, the Panthers progressed after dispatching Tampa Bay in a mere five games.
On the other side of the spectrum, the Toronto Maple Leafs were left rueing missed chances. Even with William Nylander scoring and Auston Matthews returning from an unexplained two-game absence, they fell short. It was the bitter continuation of a lingering jinx — their seventh straight failed endeavor since the 2013 conference quarterfinals — a hex that has seen them lose all their away game deciders in Boston.
While the Leafs’ goalie Ilya Samsonov held up remarkably after being enlisted to replace injured Joseph Woll. Samsonov capped off the night with 29 spectacular saves, having given up 12 goals in the first four games. This didn’t quite dent the Bruins’ armor as Lindholm crafted an equalizer for Boston, thereby creating momentum, which swung fortunate towards the Bruins’ side.
Unsurprisingly, the Bruins fans roared their team on, spurred by beloved retired captain Patrice Bergeron’s flag wave before the game and a surprise appearance by Boston Celtics stars. On the ice, the Bruins players fed off the pulsating energy, keeping the pressure on their rivals from the first bell, seizing an opening 20 minute 11-8 edge, a remarkable turnaround from being whittled down 23-3 in the first period of Games 5 and 6. The victory was ruthlessly decisive and indicative of the Bruins’ relentless resolve and fighting spirit.
