Forward William Nylander is expected to make his series debut for the Toronto Maple Leafs Saturday night at Scotiabank Arena.
The Boston Bruins have the opportunity to shift the complexion of their first-round series against the Toronto Maple Leafs Saturday night at Scotiabank Arena.
The Bruins hold a 2-1 series lead following Wednesday’s 4-2 Game 3 win, and will look to extend that advantage come Game 4’s 8 p.m. puck drop.
“It’s a hard part in the series, especially when you have two evenly-matched teams,” Bruins coach Jim Montgomery said Saturday to the media. “Who can win two in a row, really can take control of the series…It’s a tough task.”
Brad Marchand had a commanding performance with three points (two goals, one assist) in Game 3. Trent Frederic and Jake DeBrusk also scored. DeBrusk – who was moved up to the first line with Pavel Zacha and David Pastrnak – now has five points (three goals, two assists) in three games.
DeBrusk’s Game 3 goal came on Boston’s much-improved power play. Montgomery’s adjustments at the end of the regular season have given the Bruins a 1A, 1B look on the man advantage, and it has worked. The team has five power-play goals in three games.
“I think we all really just committed to getting shots to the net and making plays from there,” Kevin Shattenkirk, who was moved to quarterback the first PP unit, said Saturday to the media. “It’s great to see, it’s a huge part of the game at this time of year when you can win the special-teams battle.”
Jeremy Swayman made 28 saves on Wednesday and may get the start in Game 4, which would be the first time the Bruins stray from the goalie rotation this series. Swayman has been shutdown against Toronto this year with a 5-0-0 record (three-regular season wins, two in the playoffs). His composure and athleticism have shined through.
“He’s obviously just a competitor. The way that he kind of tracks the puck, even in those chaotic situations in front of him…just laser focus on where the next shot might go,” Shattenkirk said of Swayman.
Apr 24, 2024; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Boston Bruins forward Jake DeBrusk (74) skates against the Toronto Maple Leafs during the third period of game three of the first round of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY SportsThe Bruins’ backend will have a new player to focus on in Game 4. William Nylander will likely make his series debut on Saturday after being sidelined with an undisclosed injury. The forward posted 98 points (40 goals, 58 assists) for Toronto in the regular season, and would slot onto the third line with Pontus Holmberg and Calle Jarnkrok.
“It changes,” Montgomery said of how his team’s game plan is affected by Nylander’s return. “Depending on where they use him, how you have to defend the line combinations and then obviously the power play.”
Mason Lohrei and Parker Wotherspoon – who both skated in their first playoff game on Wednesday – are expected to be back in the lineup Saturday. Lohrei is on the first pair with Charlie McAvoy, and Wotherspoon is on the third pair with Shattenkirk. Matt Grzelcyk will draw out as a healthy scratch while Andrew Peeke is dealing with a week-to-week, upper-body injury.
“Personally, I just need to get a little bit more comfortable in there and play with a little bit more confidence – having that first one under your belt helps a lot,” Wotherspoon said Saturday to the media. “This is a big game, this is a pivotal game. We’ve just got to come out and have a good attitude and play our game.”
Boston will look for players like David Pastrnak and Charlie Coyle to get going on the scoresheet in Game 4. Pastrnak – who finished the regular season with 110 points (47 goals, 63 assists) – has three points (one goal, two assists) in the series. Coyle, who is centering the second line with Brad Marchand and Morgan Geekie, has just one assist through three games.
With a win Saturday, the Bruins could bring a 3-1 series lead back to TD Garden for Game 5 on Tuesday night.
“We know that they’re going to come out with a lot of desperation. I think our job is to match that and then go above it,” Shattenkirk said. “We look at every game as make or break – we want to treat it that way.”