Can the Toronto Maple Leafs pull off a miraculous comeback in the series against the Boston Bruins in the 2024 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs?
With history playing a factor, the 2018 Toronto Maple Leafs were also down 3-1 in the series coming back to force a Game 7 to end up losing in the 7th game.
The Boston Bruins last season were the best regular-season team of all time, with 65 wins on the season. They were up 3-1 against the last team to get in the playoffs, the Florida Panthers. The Bruins blew that series and lost in a dramatic Game 7 overtime winner from former Leaf, Carter Verhaghe.
The 2024 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs could have been kinder to the Toronto Maple Leafs as they drew arch-rivals, the Boston Bruins, in round 1. Looking at the history between these two teams, the matchup seemed to favour the Bruins. But looking at both teams’ rosters, many hockey minds picked the Leafs to defeat their rivals in a dramatic 7-game series, 6-game series, or even a 5-game series.
The last time the Toronto Maple Leafs defeated the Boston Bruins in a seven-game series was back in 1959 which makes Leaf fans sick to their stomach. With the additions of Max Domi, Tyler Bertuzzi, Ryan Reaves, and many others, this team on paper looks to give the Bruins a run for their money.
Let’s take a look back at this 2024 series of the Leafs and Bruins:
Game 1
In game 1, the Toronto Maple Leafs started with high pressure and a few high-danger chances, but on the Bruin’s first shot of the series, the fourth line of Patrick Maroon, Jesper Boqvist, and John Beecher scored the first goal of this highly anticipated series.
The Bruins would end up winning 5-1 already giving Leaf fans doubts about their success against the Bruins in this series. Jeremy Swayman’s play was a key factor in this game giving up one goal on 36 shots with a .972 save percentage.
Game 2
Game 2 however was a completely different story. Jim Montgomery, the Bruins head coach Decided to keep his goalie rotation that worked in the regular season by starting Linus Ullmark after one of Jeremy Swayman’s best performances as a Boston Bruin. The Leafs came out strong once again also giving up the first goal but the response after the first period was where the game switched. After the immense pressure, the Leafs put on the Bruins in the second period, who else but none other than Captain John Tavares buries one short side on Ullmark tying things up heading into the third. In the third period, Toronto looks like a team possessed. High danger chances all over the place knowing that they could go down to zero. They knew they needed to win this game.
After all the talk about the star players needing to show up in this series, a pass from Max Domi over the heads of the Bruins players lands into the glove of 69 goal scorer Auston Matthews’ hands as he places the puck down 1 on 1 with the goalie, fakes him out and scores top shelf putting game two to rest and tying this series 1-1 heading to Toronto. That is what you call a response.
Game 3
Heading into game 3 in Toronto, the goalie who beat the Leafs in game 1, Jeremy Swayman, was going to start this game without a doubt. The lineups look identical except for one thing, Bruins forward and former Leaf James van Riemsdyk making his 2024 playoff debut against his former team. After a scoreless first-period, Mitch Marner – referred to as the Invisible Man due to his lack of production in the first two games – sets up Matthew Knies with a beautiful pass to give the Leafs a 1-0 lead. Not long after, Trent Frederic ties things at 1 heading into the third.
In the first minute of the period, Jake DeBrusk scores taking the lead 2-1. Later in the period, Tyler Bertuzzi ties things up at 2 with a deflection. Moments later, who else but Bruins Captain Brad Marchand scored a beautiful shot right over the shoulder of Samsonov giving Boston the lead. Marchand would then add an empty net goal giving the Bruins the win leading the series 2-1.
Game 4
A long two days later, game 4, Saturday night Hockey Night in Canada, William Nylander making his 2024 playoff debut after missing the first three games, this game was for the Toronto Maple Leafs to win. However, the Toronto Maple Leafs played one of the worst hockey games we’ve ever seen. I said this in my podcast, they showed up with no effort whatsoever.
The Leafs take an embarrassing 3-1 loss with giveaways, lost puck battles, and a lack of urgency now going down 3-1 in the series heading back to Boston.
Now with Game 5 coming up, can the Maple Leafs come back and win this series?
Yes, they can. Here’s what they need to do to overcome the odds and defeat the Bruins.
-
Score the first goal
The Toronto Maple Leafs in game 5 tonight need to score first. The Boston Bruins fans are going to be loud tonight as they know one more win will get them through to the second round. by scoring the first goal, the Leafs will calm the storm that is TD Garden and control the game at their pace
-
Do not let Marchand get in your head
Brad Marchand’s physical capabilities have been a huge factor in Boston’s success, but his mental game also is a reason why the Bruins are up 3-1. By not taking any stupid penalties on Marchand for playing physically and taunting the lease players like Bertuzzi, if the Toronto Maple Leafs do not play into his mind games and focus on their play, they will win.
-
Special Teams
One for 14 on the power play is unacceptable and the Leafs power play needs to be better. If they can start scoring on the powerplay and being a better penalty-killing team, they can calm the storm that is the Bruins special teams which have played a huge factor in Boston leading the series 3-1.
It is going to be a tough hill to climb. It’s not an easy road ahead, but if the Toronto Maple Leafs can stick to their game, not give in to Marchand’s antics, and start scoring on the power play, they have a strong chance at pushing this game to seven games and overcoming the odds to win this series.
