Bruins
Here’s what we learned as a second-round series with the Florida Panthers awaits following Boston’s thrilling 2-1 OT victory.
Once again, the Boston Bruins didn’t make things easy on themselves during their seven-game series with the Toronto Maple Leafs. But this time, they overcame a pair of flat outings in Games 5 and 6 and recovered in time to down the Leafs in Game 7 for the fifth time in 12 years.
With his job security potentially in limbo, Jim Montgomery needed his team to persevere once more. At the midway point of the third, the Bruins faced a 1-0 deficit after a returning Auston Matthews found William Nylander to capitalize on a Brandon Carlo turnover.
A mere 80 seconds elapsed before Hampus Lindholm’s shot somehow squeaked past Ilya Samsonov, who filled in for an injured Joseph Woll.
Another timely stop by Jeremy Swayman — preventing an own goal — at the end of regulation sent the game into overtime.
The Bruins wasted little time cashing in. After hearing his plethora of critiques heading into Game 7, David Pastrnak sped past Mitch Marner and pounced on a fortunate bounce off the end boards to secure the series clincher a mere 1:54 into the extra session.
Here’s what we learned as a second-round series with the Florida Panthers awaits following Boston’s thrilling 2-1 OT victory.
Pastrnak perseveres and responds.
He can change any game on a dime with his gifted skillset. But until Game 7, a Leafs bunch not known for their defensive and goaltending traits had kept Pastrnak under wraps.
Still, Montgomery knew that the Bruins needed more out of Pastrnak.
The second-year bench boss called out Pastrnak following the Game 6 loss in Toronto. But Montgomery didn’t just save his words for the press conference podium.
Indeed, the two had numerous conversations throughout the series. And Pastrnak took Montgomery’s criticisms constructively.
“I told him if I were the coach and you were me, I would be saying the same thing,” Pastrnak said of his exchange with Montgomery. “He’s trying to bring the best out of every single player, and he expects more, and how I said I just took it as a man and tried to be better. I admitted that I needed to be better and I still have ways to be better.”
Pastrnak knew he had another level to reach. He also knows he needs to raise his performance against a deep Panthers team in Round 2.
On this night, the Bruins felt Pastrnak’s creativity and infectious vibes. And with their season on the line, they had a good feeling their dynamic playmaker would come through in a pivotal moment.
“I thought he was dynamic tonight. I thought he had his most possession time was creating shots and was taking what was available and you know, not forcing things which, you know, happens at times to really gifted offensive players,” Montgomery said after watching Pastrnak score his first career playoff overtime winner.
“When I walked in this morning, he had a smile on his face here to hear that he was What’s up coach, you sleep well. And as soon as I know he’s in that frame of mind, I knew he was going to be good tonight.”
Swayman completes a breakthrough series.
After Game 7 last year, Swayman felt that he owed his teammates “one more save” despite Montgomery and the Bruins coaching staff throwing him into the proverbial fire.
This year, the fourth-year netminder got the bulkwork of the starts. He took over the net in Game 3 after altering the first two games with Linus Ullmark, the other half of Boston’s dynamic goaltending duo.
Boston’s offensive production hit a snag beginning in Game 5. Swayman’s confidence never wavered, frequently bailing his team out with multiple timely stops.
That trend continued during his 30-save outing in Game 7. The Leafs finally broke through in the third after Carlo’s turnover out to dry. But this time, Lindholm and Pastrnak responded and gave Swayman one more goal to secure his first career Game 7 win.
“I just wanted to battle and do my job and enjoy the fruits of Game 7 overtime,” a jubilated Swayman said. “When you say it out loud it’s like a pinch yourself thing. I’m just so grateful to get this opportunity, and do it with this group and this team. It’s a dream come true.”
Indeed, Swayman had the breakthrough moment of his four-year career, stopping 172 of 181 shots faced. In the process, he likely secured his long-term future as the stalwart of the Boston net.
Adversity prepared the Bruins for this moment.
At this time last year, the Bruins — following a record-breaking regular season — faced limited adversity entering Game 7.
With a transitional squad in place, the Bruins had to dig and claw out of various skids and slumps throughout their centennial season. But they faced their biggest challenge in Game 7.
A deja vu feeling appeared to settle in once Nylander notched his third goal of the series. But in another tightly-contested tilt, the Bruins provided their most resilient moment of the season.
Amid a season of declining production, Lindholm arguably provided his best 200-foot outing of the season. His highlights in Game 7 included the tying marker and preventing Nylander from converting on a breakaway attempt.
The Bruins, who had altered their traditional pregame routine ahead of Game 7, prepared themselves for this moment. They embraced the opportunity of reversing their recent Game 7 history and witnessed signature moments from Pastrnak, Swayman and countless others to earn themselves another meeting with the Panthers.
“I think it helped our group a lot to know that we’ve been able to fight back and find our game tonight,” Montgomery said. “You know, of course the series, it was really tough series. It was very, very evenly played. This was our best game all series, and we’re really proud of the players because this was an opportunity to seize the moment and be difference makers. And I felt everybody had the attitude of wanting to be a difference maker.”
Newsletter Signup
Stay up to date on all the latest news from Boston.com