Within the first ninety seconds on Saturday, Jeremy Swayman was the target of four shots from the Toronto Maple Leafs.
A few moments later, the team was retrieving the puck from its net as the Bruins took advantage of an error.
Early in the second period, Toronto was awarded a 4-on-3 power play, but it was unsuccessful. Then, superstar Auston Matthews beat the Boston goalie to a loose puck, only to have his fantastic opportunity painfully find iron. In the following minute, the home team led 2-0.
A superior effort in the opposing crease, squandered opportunities, mental mistakes, and special teams play have all been features of recent Leaf postseasons.
Within an electrified TD Garden, that script was performed once more.
In the first game of their first-round playoff series, Boston defeated Toronto 5-1 because to a three-point effort from Jake DeBrusk, who finished with two goals and 35 saves.
“They’re a very patient team,” stated Matthews, who finished the regular season with an astounding 69 goals to lead the NHL. “Acted upon the errors that we committed.
“Got a taste of what this series is all about – we’ve got to elevate our game.”
Boston also scored goals through Trent Frederic, John Beecher, and Brandon Carlo into an empty net. After a flawless 4-0-0 regular season, the Bruins maintained their dominance over the Leafs with two assists apiece from Brad Marchand and Charlie McAvoy.
Toronto’s David Kampf responded, giving the Bruins five power plays on mainly sloppy or unruly plays (Boston connected on two of them), while Toronto went 0-for-3 with man advantages. Samsonov Ilya stopped nineteen shots.
