PREMATCH
The Boston Bruins try on Saturday to avoid the sad fate that was reserved for them on this date last year, while they have a third – and final – opportunity to eliminate the Toronto Maple Leafs in their series first round.
After shattering regular season records during the 2022-2023 season, the Bruins consecutively lost the fifth, sixth and seventh games of their confrontation against the Florida Panthers, eventual Stanley Cup finalists.
To avoid the same situation, the Bruins will have to counter star center Auston Matthews, who returns to service for this seventh and final meeting.
The sniper still hadn’t skated with his teammates since Game 4. In his absence, the Leafs won Games 5 and 6, forcing a Game 7 tonight.
In four games in this series, Matthews had one goal and three points. He has since had to take time off due to a virus.
Woll on the sidelines, Samsonov as reinforcement
If the return of No. 34 offers a serious helping hand to Sheldon Keefe’s team, Toronto learned on Saturday that Joseph Woll will not be able to patrol the net, after he suffered an injury during the sixth game.
The Leafs must rely on Ilya Samsonov, who suffered failures in three of his four starts in this series, in Games Nos. 1, 2 and 4.
Woll shone during the fifth and sixth clashes, conceding only one goal in 120 minutes of play.
More details to come
