SUMMARY
For a second game in a row, the Toronto Maple Leafs face elimination without the services of their big star Auston Matthews. Trailing 3-2 in the series, they welcome the Boston Bruins for Game 6 of their first round series.
The Maple Leafs are up 1-0 at the 2nd intermission.
The Maple Leafs dominated the first period 12-1 in terms of shots on goal without managing to open the scoring against a Jeremy Swayman in great form.
The Bruins then controlled the majority of the second, but this time it was Joseph Woll who stood out with 13 saves in front of the Toronto net and William Nylander opened the scoring with his first goal of the playoffs with 55 seconds left. to commitment.
Nylander maneuvered well with the puck at the top of the territory before firing a seemingly unthreatening shot toward the Bruins goal. However, the puck made its way through traffic into the net defended by Swayman.
Pre-match notes
Matthews laced up the skates with teammate Bobby McMann in the morning Thursday before skipping the team’s regular morning practice.
Author of 69 goals in the regular season, Matthews was removed from Game 4 due to illness and was absent in the fifth game.
Toronto then invited elimination thanks to Matthew Knies’ goal 2:26 into the overtime period.
The Maple Leafs were without William Nylander for the first three games of the series. He has been shut out in two games since his return.
Jeremy Swayman will be the starting goalie for the Bruins for a fourth straight game while Joseph Woll will defend the Maple Leafs cage for a third straight game.
The Leafs have lost their last six home games in the playoffs.
Toronto is trying to advance to the second round of the playoffs for a second straight year after advancing past the first round for the first time since 2004 last year.
Boston is looking to reach the second round for the first time in three seasons.
If necessary, Game 7 of the series would be held Saturday evening in Boston.
