Tonight is time for Saturday night hockey in this the last of the 2024 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs Eastern Conference Quarterfinal matchups. It will mark the fourth encounter between the Boston Bruins and the Toronto Maple Leafs in a Game 7 within a span of 12 years. Unfortunately, the Boston Bruins were unable to secure victory in their previous two chances to eliminate the Toronto Maple Leafs in this series. If they fail to do so this time, they will etch an unwanted record in the history books as the first team in the NHL to squander a 3-1 series lead in consecutive post-seasons.
Jim Montgomery Disappointed With Game 6 Outcome Counts on Bruins Stars to Step up in Game 7
Following the Bruins 2-1 defeat at Scotiabank Arena on Thursday evening, Bruins Head Coach Jim Montgomery emphasized the need for improvement in Game 7. “Your best players need to be your best players this time of year,” Montgomery told reporters postgame. “I think the effort is tremendous, and they need to come through with some big-time plays and big-time moments. I think Marchand has done that in the series. Pasta needs to step up.”
Despite the team’s loss in Game 6 on Thursday, the coach did manage to find some positives to highlight. While Montgomery expressed disappointment in the team’s overall effort, he did acknowledge some encouraging moments during the second half of the game. These glimpses of progress provide a glimmer of hope for the team’s future endeavours. “We were a much better hockey team than we were in Game 5,” said Montgomery. “Didn’t recognize the team in Game 5. The last 30 minutes, I recognized the team and that’s what we’re going to need to build off of”.
Players Share Their Opinion Ahead of the Bruins Leafs Game 7 Matchup
Some of the team expressed their thoughts on the outcome of game six. Three Bruin stars Brad Marchand, Jeremy Swayman, and David Pastrnak also discussed their strategies for enhancing their performance in Game 7.
Brad Marchand: “It’s a tight game,” Boston captain Brad Marchand said. “They’re starting well every game. They are prepared to play, first shift, and we need to be better in that area. I think we had maybe one game where we started as good or better than them.”
David Pastrnak: “We got much better as the game went on,” he said. “We need to be much better at the start of our next game.”
Jeremy Swayman: “It’s understanding the magnitude, but not being overwhelmed by it.” The Bruins goalie went on to say “I think we all understand that in the playoffs, every game is a Game 7. That’s the intensity that we want to bring every night and when we do get to a Game 7 it should be another day in the office for us, because we’ve prepared the right way.”
Jim Montgomery, Brad Marchand, David Pastrnak and Jeremy Swayman spoke with the media following the #NHLBruins loss on Thursday night. pic.twitter.com/DPRWpF3X7I
— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) May 3, 2024
Game 7 Returns to the Home of the Bruins
Get set for a thrilling Game 7 showdown in Boston between two historic Original Six franchises, the Bruins and Leafs! The pressure is on for both both teams as they fight for a chance to advance to the next round of the playoffs. The home crowd will be buzzing with excitement as fans rally behind the black and gold. The victor will go head-to-head with the Florida Panthers in the upcoming round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. If the Bruins manage to come out on top, they will face a formidable adversary in the upcoming series. However, this is a familiar scenario for the Bruins, who have conquered numerous Game 7’s in the past. Be sure to catch all the action tonight!
Main photo: Brian Fluharty-USA TODAY Sports
