David Pastrnak's overtime winner and Hampus Lindholm's two-point night highlighted the Boston Bruins' Game 7 victory against the Toronto Maple Leafs in the First Round, but Boston would not have advanced without three young players stepping up into the moment.
David Pastrnak's overtime winner and Hampus Lindholm's two-point night highlighted the Boston Bruins' Game 7 victory against the Toronto Maple Leafs in the First Round, but Boston would not have advanced without three young players stepping up into the moment.
BEDFORD, Mass. – Jim Montgomery issued a challenge.
After losing Game 6 in the Eastern Conference First Round to the Toronto Maple Leafs 2-1 on Thursday, the Boston Bruins saw their 3-1 series lead evaporate. Like a year prior, the Bruins would have to fight to advance in Game 7.
The Bruins coach wanted to see more from his top players. Aside from Morgan Geekie, none of Boston’s top six forwards scored a point in Games 5 and 6. Montgomery called out his leaders, namely David Pastrnak, in hopes they would step up in Game 7 on Saturday.
Pastrnak delivered, scoring at 1:54 of overtime to send the Bruins on to the next round, but he was not the only player that came up big when they needed to. Perhaps just as importantly as the stars meeting the moment, a handful of rookies playing in their first NHL Game 7 played important roles for Boston as well.
Mason Lohrei, Johnny Beecher and Justin Brazeau were among the younger players in supporting roles for Boston, and all three rose to the occasion in their own way.
“All our young players handled themselves very well,” Bruins general manager Don Sweeney said on Sunday. “[Parker] Wotherspoon’s playing in his first playoffs, ‘Beech’ is playing his first playoff, as you mentioned Lohrei and Brazeau, so it takes everybody. Our leaders trying to educate them as you go through the ups and downs and the roller coaster rides of what the playoffs present, but credit to each and every one of them for contributing.”
Lohrei was arguably Boston’s best defenseman in Game 7. While his partner on the top pair, Charlie McAvoy, had an uncharacteristically off game underscored by three giveaways, Lohrei played the puck with poise and jumped in to create chances on the offensive end. He also blocked four shots, which was tied for most on the team with Charlie Coyle.
Beecher, meanwhile, doled out three hits and won eight out of his 15 face-offs (53 percent). Brazeau threw his body around to the tune of five hits, and he logged the secondary assist on Hampus Lindholm’s tying goal in the third period.
Bruins forward Pat Maroon, who plays on the fourth line with Beecher and plays a similar style to Brazeau, said he was impressed with both forwards. He praised Beecher’s ability to step into key moments at the face-off dot and how Brazeau made his presence known getting to the net.
“We need those guys to keep, continue that and bring that energy,” Maroon said on Sunday. “Especially young guys, we feed off their energy.”
As for Lohrei, Montgomery pointed out how important he’s become to the team this season. In the span of one season, Lohrei went from missing the final cut for the opening night roster to asserting himself as a top four defenseman.
“I hope it’s his coming out party,” Montgomery said on Saturday. “Like, ‘I’m an NHL player. I’m going to help the Bruins from now on.’ And knowing you belong, knowing how much you mean to the growth of our team and how dynamic he makes us should be really comforting.
“And now we have a real tough test coming ahead and we know that. We haven’t won anything yet. We’ve just earned the right to play in the second round.”
Without the contributions of their least experienced players, the Bruins wouldn’t have earned that right.
Other Links:
Five Takeaways From The Boston Bruins’ First Round Performance