Facing a critical Game 7 against the Toronto Maple Leafs with the Boston Bruins’ season hanging in the balance and their top scorer struggling, coach Jim Montgomery didn’t shy away from publicly challenging David Pastrnak to step up.
The move paid off as Pastrnak delivered one of his best performances when it mattered most. Pastrnak netted the game-winning goal 1:54 into overtime, assisted by Hampus Lindholm, as the Bruins secured a 2-1 victory over the Maple Leafs in Game 7 on Saturday night, advancing in the NHL playoffs.
“He’s trying to bring the best out of every single player. He expects more,” Pastrnak acknowledged. “I admitted I needed to be better.”
It marked a redemption for Pastrnak, who had struggled with just two goals and two assists in the first six games.
“I thought he was dynamic tonight,” Montgomery praised.
Jeremy Swayman stood tall with 30 saves, and Lindholm’s goal in regulation helped the Bruins avoid a collapse after leading the series 3-1. This win marked the third time in seven years that the Bruins defeated the Maple Leafs in a Game 7 of the first round of the playoffs.
“This was our best game of the series,” Montgomery noted. “This was the opportunity to seize the moment and be a difference maker.”
Boston now looks ahead to a matchup with the Florida Panthers in Game 1 on Monday night. The Panthers, who eliminated Tampa Bay in five games, pose a fresh challenge for the Bruins, having upset them in seven games in the first round last year.
The Maple Leafs, on the other hand, are left reeling, going 0-6 in Game 7s since the 2013 conference quarterfinals and 0-4 on the road in those games, all against Boston. Auston Matthews returned from a two-game absence, but Toronto couldn’t find a breakthrough, with William Nylander scoring their lone goal.
“It was really hard to watch those two games. But just really proud of how the guys fight and battle back and give ourselves a chance,” Matthews remarked.
Ilya Samsonov, starting in place of Joseph Woll, made 29 saves for the Maple Leafs, but it wasn’t enough to stave off elimination.
“It’s a tough one to lose. Tough way to go,” Maple Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe reflected.
Keefe praised Matthews for his effort to play through less than ideal conditions, stating, “He did all he could to get himself ready and to play at less than 100%.”
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