Recreation 5 takeaways: Leafs keep away from removing with OT win vs. Bruins firstly gave the impression on NBC Sports activities Boston
BOSTON — The Toronto Maple Leafs have new lifestyles within the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
In spite of no longer having their absolute best participant and the NHL’s main purpose scorer, Auston Matthews, for Recreation 5 in their first-round sequence as opposed to the Boston Bruins, the Leafs confirmed spectacular combat and resilience to earn a 2-1 time beyond regulation victory Tuesday at TD Lawn and drive a Recreation 6 again in Toronto.
Leafs ahead Matthew Knies scored the successful purpose simply 2:26 into time beyond regulation.
The Bruins have been in an excessively equivalent state of affairs final 12 months, too. That they had a 3-1 sequence lead getting into Recreation 5 at house towards the Florida Panthers. They misplaced Recreation 5 in time beyond regulation, then misplaced the following two video games as their season got here to a shocking finish. Boston has two extra probabilities to keep away from a repeat situation, beginning with Recreation 6 on Thursday night time at Scotiabank Area.
The Leafs wish to finish their six-game house playoff dropping streak to drive a decisive Recreation 7 on Saturday again in Boston. Sooner than we sit up for Thursday’s matchup, listed here are 3 takeaways from Bruins-Leafs Recreation 5.
Bruins fortunate to be tied after first length
The Bruins had an excessively tough begin to this recreation. They iced the puck more than one occasions over the primary 10 mins, together with one leading to a defensive zone faceoff that at last resulted in the Leafs opening the scoring.
Mitch Marner were given the puck after a faceoff win and fed it to Jake McCabe on the level. His shot beat Jeremy Swayman via site visitors to position Toronto on best early.
Faceoffs have been an enormous factor for the Bruins within the first length. They misplaced 16 of 20 faceoffs within the body, together with an abysmal 4-of-14 within the defensive zone. The Leafs additionally had a 30-7 edge in shot makes an attempt, a 12-2 lead in pictures and a 9-2 merit in scoring probabilities right through the length. The ice used to be tilted beautiful closely in Toronto’s want.
And but, the Bruins went into the intermission even at one purpose due to Trent Frederic. Jesper Boqvist and Pat Maroon did a pleasing activity struggling with beneath the purpose line and controlled to get the puck to Frederic in entrance of the web, who beat his early life teammate Joseph Wall to get Boston at the board.
It used to be the second one time on this sequence that Frederic tied the rating at one. He did so in Recreation 3, too.
Joseph Woll stepped up when Leafs wanted it maximum
The Leafs got here into this recreation with a .871 save proportion as a crew in Spherical 1. Unhealthy goaltending used to be probably the most number one explanation why they entered Recreation 5 trailing 3-1 within the sequence.
A metamorphosis by means of head trainer Sheldon Keefe made an enormous distinction Tuesday night time.
Joseph Woll, who performed really well within the 3rd length of Recreation 4 in aid of Ilya Samsonov, made his first get started of the sequence. He performed vastly, making a pair snatch saves in each and every length, in all probability none extra necessary than this prevent on Trent Frederic with the rating tied within the 3rd length.
Woll additionally made a pair snatch stops early in time beyond regulation. He completed with 28 saves on 29 pictures (.966 save proportion). There is no method Woll mustn’t get started Recreation 6. He is earned it.
Which goalie begins Recreation 6 for Bruins?
The Bruins gave Jeremy Swayman a 3rd directly get started, which made sense making an allowance for he gained his earlier 3 video games within the sequence and hadn’t misplaced to the Leafs since April 29 of 2022.
Swayman used to be very busy early. He made 11 saves on 12 pictures within the opening 20 mins. The one puck he did not prevent within the first length got here on a shot from level that made its method via site visitors in entrance of the web.
One in every of Swayman’s absolute best saves got here right through a 2d length penalty kill when he needed to transfer temporarily from proper to left to get in entrance of a shot by means of Morgan Rielly.
The College of Maine product made every other just right prevent right through a 2-on-1 rush within the 3rd length.
Swayman completed with 31 saves on 33 pictures (.939 save proportion).
The Bruins now have a choice to make. Do they stick with Swayman, who performed in reality neatly once more in Recreation 5 in spite of the loss, or return to Ullmark? If Ullmark begins Recreation 6, it’s going to be his first look in 10 days. Would he be rusty? If Swayman begins Recreation 6, it will be his fourth recreation in 9 days.
Swayman gave two stellar performances up in Toronto previous within the sequence. He is been the most productive goalie statistically in all of the 2024 playoffs. A robust case may well be made for driving the new hand and letting Swayman end the sequence, win or lose.