The Boston Bruins beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 2-1 in overtime Saturday night at TD Garden to clinch their spot in the second round.
The Boston Bruins beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 2-1 in overtime Saturday night at TD Garden to clinch their spot in the second round.
They did not make it easy on themselves, but the Boston Bruins made it out of the first round.
David Pastrnak’s overtime heroics in Game 7 Saturday night at TD Garden secured the 2-1 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs, and a date with the Florida Panthers in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
As the Bruins look ahead to the next challenge, here are five takeaways from their first-round performance.
Jeremy Swayman Shines As Bruins’ Most Valuable Player
Jeremy Swayman was the one constant for Boston through seven games against Toronto. No matter how the team in front of him played, the 25-year-old goaltender was sharp, poised, agile and simply happy to be there.
“He was our best player of the series, it’s not close. His confidence and his swagger, I think it permeated through the group. Took a while, but it got there,” Bruins coach Jim Montogmery said Saturday.
Swayman started in all but one game in the first round, and posted a 1.49 goals against average and .950 save percentage. His 30 saves in Game 7 held the Bruins in it, especially in the second period in which Toronto unleashed 12 shots on goal.
“He’s been unbelievable. He’s been so steady back there for us,” Hampus Lindholm said Saturday. “If we don’t have him back there, I don’t think we win this game.”
With the first round behind Boston, the questions about the goaltender rotation return. Swayman was stellar. He showed no issue with the heavier workload and responsibility. But, with six games played in 12 days and a Vezina-winning goaltender on the bench, the Bruins could turn to Linus Ullmark for Game 1 against Florida.
Ullmark has a 12-3-1 record against the Panthers through his entire career, with a 2.47 GAA and .929 SV%. Boston has two top-tier guys to choose from, and they’ll both be ready to go if called upon.
“I just wanted to battle and do my job and enjoy the fruits of a Game 7 overtime – when you say it out loud, it’s like a pinch yourself thing,” Swayman said Saturday. “Just so grateful to get this opportunity and do it with this group.”
Mason Lohrei Making Strides In First Playoffs
Mason Lohrei made his playoff debut in Game 3 in Toronto after getting called up from AHL Providence. The 23-year-old rookie was thrown right into the fire and skated on the first defensive pair with Charlie McAvoy.
After 41 regular-season games with the Bruins, Lohrei grew to understand his role – lean into his offensive instincts, but remain responsible on the backend. While the postseason stage presented an initial adjustment for Lohrei, he ended up being a reliable, spunky piece of Boston’s D-corps against the Leafs.
“If you look at the five games, three were stellar. One was a dip, and I loved the way he came back from the dip. Game 6 and 7 were really moments for him that I hope it’s his coming-out party. Like, ‘I’m an NHL player, I’m going to help the Bruins from now on,’” Montgomery said Saturday of Lohrei.
Lohrei logged 21:37 and 19:20 of total ice time in Game 6 and 7, respectively. He didn’t shy away from the moment. Instead, he embraced it like a pro and the Bruins were better for it.
“Knowing you belong, knowing how much you mean to the growth of our team and how dynamic he makes us, should be really comforting,” Montgomery said.
Bruins Benefitting From Adversity
The Bruins did not win the Presidents’ Trophy or have a record-breaking regular season, and it’s arguably what allowed them to prevail in the first round.
“I think it helped our group a lot to know that we’ve been able to fight back and find our game,” Montgomery said.
Boston – in what was initially deemed to be a transitional year – worked through lineup changes, injuries, losing streaks and still came out on top of the Atlantic Division. They built up belief in their resilience throughout the regular season and were able to rely on it against Toronto when things did not go their way.
The Bruins came oh so close to another first-round meltdown, but it wasn’t this team’s first time facing adversity. Brad Marchand said Kevin Shattenkirk gave Boston a speech on Friday night that helped the group “settle down” and understand the keys to Game 7 success.
“You could just see that within the group we knew that everyone was going to bring their best game and everyone was going to do their job,” Marchand said Saturday. “There was a confidence throughout the group this morning.”
Bruins, Obviously, Need To Be Better In Second Round
The Game 7 overtime finish was great. Excitement and relief washed over the Bruins players and fans alike. But, it should have never gotten to that point in the first place.
It’s not just the fact that Boston nearly blew its 3-1 series lead, it’s the way they did it. The Bruins’ lack of emotion, effort and offensive production in Game 5 and 6 was not acceptable, and won’t fly in the second round – especially against the Panthers.
What’s more, the Bruins’ top players still need to reach another level. Pastrnak’s game-winning tally was a good start as he finished the series with five points (three goals, two assists). That will need to be elevated, and he knows it. The same goes for top-six centers Pavel Zacha and Charlie Coyle who each registered just two assists through seven games.
Boston’s depth played an important role in its success – it just needs to be supplemented by consistency from the team’s stars.
Jim Montgomery Learning As A Coach
Montgomery was questioned for the lineup changes he made ahead of Game 5. He was further questioned when his team failed to close out the series in the two contests leading up to Game 7. However, the Bruins ultimately pulled through, and it was a learning experience for everyone.
“I think we’re a better team because of what we just went through,” Montgomery said. “Now they know what it takes to push through.”
Montgomery and those around him made the decision for the Bruins to stay at a local hotel before Game 7 at TD Garden. The goal was to block out any distractions and allow the players to be physically – and mentally – together before their biggest game of the season thus far.
“Learning from other coaches – when I went to the Patriots’ spring camp, and I see ‘eliminate the outside noise’ is the one thing that Belichick preached all the time, it’s something that stuck with me,” Montgomery said.
The second-year head coach had to find a way to keep his team motivated, positive and loose. Personally, Montgomery said he had to focus on not getting frustrated at results and instead find new ways to communicate with his players. It evidently worked.
“I’ve never gone through the experience that we’ve gone through here in the playoffs,” Montgomery said. “Everywhere I’ve been, I’ve had success and it’s come quite easily. It’s so rewarding to be able to go through this and grow as a coach.”
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