The Boston Bruins and the Toronto Maple Leafs are facing off in the first round of the NHL Playoffs, with the Bruins currently holding a 3-1 lead in the series. This Saturday’s game will be the ninth time the two teams have met this season, with the Bruins coming out on top in the previous matchup with a score of 3-1.
The Bruins have been particularly dominant within the Atlantic Division with a 21-6-3 record, while Toronto has struggled against this division, ending up with a 12-15-3 record. Boston has shown their proficiency in power-play situations, boasting a 21-7-6 record in games where they have scored one or more power-play goals. On the other hand, Toronto has been able to score 298 goals this season while allowing 261, resulting in a scoring differential of +37.
Key players to watch include David Pastrnak and Brad Marchand for the Bruins, who have been performing well with 47 goals and 63 assists respectively in their last 10 games. For Toronto, Auston Matthews and John Tavares have been standout performers with 69 goals and 38 assists respectively over their last ten games.
In terms of recent performance, both teams have had their ups and downs. Boston has been averaging three goals and four assists per game over their last ten games, while Toronto has been averaging three goals per game and just three assists per game during that same period. Despite both teams having injuries to key players – Justin Brazeau for Boston; Bobby McMann for Toronto – they are determined to give it their all on Saturday night’s showdown.