Joseph Woll And The Brand-New Toronto Maple Leafs Have a Chance to Advance

Smart, defensive hockey and a rising star goaltender put the clamps on Boston as the series heads to Game 7.

Watching Game 6 of the Toronto-Boston series from the press box, I couldn't help but wonder aloud: "Who are these Maple Leafs, and what have they done with the old Maple Leafs?"

The team I was watching absolutely stuffed the archrival Bruins, outshooting Boston 12-1 in the first period, matching their opponent in physical play and frustrating them to no end in the process. To wit - Tyler Bertuzzi drew penalties on Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak, the team's two best players.

Spiritually, Toronto shut out the Bruins in Game 6. Officially, they won 2-1 after a Boston goal came with less than a second on the clock - a marker so inconsequential that Bruins management was already getting into the press box elevator when the score was confirmed by the refs.

What was once a 3-1 series deficit is now even, and Toronto heads into Game 7 with confidence and a red-hot goaltender in Joseph Woll.

"The past few games, we've defended really well," said Bertuzzi. "Even if we turn a puck over, we get back and regroup and get the job done. Whether it's blocking a shot or having a good stick, we've been competing really well and been very good defensively."

Since taking over the Leafs' crease from Ilya Samsonov, Woll has given up just two goals in the past two games and leads all NHL playoff starters with a .964 save percentage and 0.86 goals-against average.

"We got a glimpse of it last year, and he's gotten the opportunity again this year to show the type of netminder he is," said captain John Tavares. "Talent is one thing, but it's also the determination, the belief in himself. He was obviously exceptional for us."

And the Leafs have been exceptional in front of their new go-to goalie. Yes, Woll had to make some crucial stops to keep Toronto ahead, but the team's stifling defense has been a boon for him.

"It was awesome to see (the play) in front of me," Woll said. "It gives me a lot of confidence back there when the group is playing like they have been the past couple games. Guys are laying out, blocking shots and coming up big in those moments."

While Toronto has put up some good defensive numbers in the past, Game 6 felt different. They were defending in layers and staying on the right side of the puck much more than usual. The first period was the smartest period of hockey I've ever seen them play, even if it didn't result in a goal.

"It's tight out there, there's not much room," Tavares said. "They defend extremely well and make it difficult and we're trying to make it difficult and establish territory to earn opportunities. You want to uphold that and get better during the game."

In the absence of Auston Matthews, still sidelined with an unknown malady, the Leafs were buoyed by William Nylander, who scored both goals on the night - including the backbreaker breakaway goal late in the third period. It was a triumphant moment for a player who missed the early games of the series due to his own physical ailments.

"He's a heckuva game-breaker," Tavares said. "When he's got the puck on his stick he can make things happen at any time. Two elite finishes for us...it's not surprising and we love having him here."

And now, a Game 7 in Boston. Both teams have demons to contend with and home-ice advantage hasn't meant much throughout the series (I do wonder if the fact Woll played his NCAA hockey at Boston College has weatherproofed him from the city's intimidation factor).

If the Maple Leafs can play like they did in the past two games, they will move on to face Florida.

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