Pastrnak, Bruins end Leafs’ season with OT win in Game 7
David Pastrnak scored 1:54 into overtime as the Boston Bruins beat the visiting Toronto Maple Leafs 2-1 on Saturday night in Game 7 of an Eastern Conference firstround playoff series.
Pastrnak raced up the right wing and scored off the carom of defenseman Hampus Lindholm’s lob off the corner boards, tucking a backhander between the left post and the skate of Toronto goaltender Ilya Samsonov (29 saves).
“I thought [Pastrnak] was dynamic tonight,” Bruins coach Jim Montgomery said. “I thought he had his most possession time, was creating shots, taking what was available and not forcing things, which happens at times to really gifted offensive players.”
Lindholm finished with a goal and an assist, tallying Boston’s only marker in regulation just 1:21 after Toronto’s William Nylander opened the scoring at 9:01 of the third period.
Jeremy Swayman made 30 saves for Boston, which has now won seven consecutive playoff series against Toronto dating back to 1969 and will meet the Florida Panthers in the second round.
“Swayman was our best player in the series, and it wasn’t close,” Montgomery said.
Samsonov got the start since Joseph Woll did not dress due to an undisclosed injury sustained in Game 6.
“Tough circumstances being down like we were, guys being in and out of the lineup and such,”
For summaries and complete scores go to the eEdition at MiamiHerald.com.
REMAINING FIRST ROUND
(Best-of-7)
EASTERN CONFERENCE
BOSTON 4, TORONTO 3
G1: Boston 5, Toronto 1
G2: Toronto 3, Boston 2
G3: Boston 4, Toronto 2
G4: Boston 3, Toronto 1
G5: Toronto 2, Boston 1 (OT)
G6: Toronto 2, Boston 1
G7: Boston 2, Toronto 1 (OT)
WESTERN CONFERENCE
DALLAS 3, VEGAS 3
G1: Vegas 4, Dallas 3
G2: Vegas 3, Dallas 1
G3: Dallas 3, Vegas 2 (OT)
G4: Dallas 4, Vegas 2
G5: Dallas 3, Vegas 2
G6: Vegas 2, Dallas 0
Sunday: at Dallas
SECOND ROUND
(Best-of-7; x-if necessary)
EASTERN CONFERENCE
FLORIDA vs. BOSTON
Monday: at Florida, 8
Wednesday: at Florida, TBA
Friday: at Boston, TBA
Sunday, May 12: at Boston, TBA x-Tuesday, May 14: at Florida, TBA x-Friday, May 17: at Boston, TBA x-Sunday, May 19: Florida, TBA
N.Y. RANGERS vs. CAROLINA
Sunday: at N.Y. Rangers
Tuesday: at N.Y. Rangers, TBA
Thursday: at Carolina, TBA
Saturday, May 11: at Carolina, TBA x-Monday, May 13: at N.Y. Rangers, TBA x-Thursday, May 16: at Carolina, TBA x-Saturday, May 18: at N.Y. Rangers, TBA
Leafs coach Sheldon
Keefe said. “Our guys pulled together to give us a chance.”
Nearly midway through the third, Toronto scored the go-ahead goal off an in-zone sequence. After Boston defenseman Brandon Carlo slipped and lost the puck in the corner, Auston Matthews — who returned from a two-game absence — picked it up and passed to an open Nylander, who deposited it into the back of the net.
The hosts wasted little time responding. Justin Brazeau’s backhand from the bottom of the right circle deflected over the net, but Lindholm got the puck on the opposite wing and flicked it in off the right post.