Bruins vs. Maple Leafs Game 4 start time, live stream, TV schedule
The Toronto Maple Leafs will look to even their best-of-seven series at 2-2 when they host the Boston Bruins in Game 4 on Thursday. Here’s all the information you need to watch.
The Toronto Maple Leafs looked like a completely different team at home in Game 3 compared to the two games in Boston. Toronto was badly outscored 12-4 in the first two games of the series before a 4-2 victory in Game 3 put them back in the series against the Boston Bruins. On Thursday at 7:00 p.m. ET at Air Canada Centre, the Leafs can tie the series at two games each.
The question entering Game 4 is which Maple Leafs team will show up. Toronto looked like a deer in the headlights in the two games in Boston. However, once they got back onto their home ice, a noticeable swagger returned to their game.
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Auston Matthews made his presence felt in Game 3 recording his first point of the series, the game-winning goal. Matthews went pointless in his first two playoff games last season as well and would then go on to score in four straight games against the Washington Capitals. If the Maple Leafs hope to even the series they’ll need Matthews to repeat history.
Besides Matthews, several other Maple Leafs stepped up and had their best performances of the series. Patrick Marleau got his first points of the series scoring two goals while becoming the oldest Maple Leaf at 38-years old to score his first playoff goal with the club. Mitch Marner added two assists. Meanwhile, Tomas Plekanec for the first time since joining Toronto didn’t look out of place as he moved up to the second line center position.
As for Boston, their top line of Patrice Bergeron, David Pastrnak, and Brad Marchand were held pointless for the first time in the series. The trio had absolutely dominated the Maple Leafs in the first two games combining for 20 points.
One of the biggest differences was with Toronto having last change, the Bruins weren’t able to dictate matchups as well as they had in Boston. Coach Bruce Cassidy will no doubt make adjustments to ensure his top players create a bigger impact in Game 4.
Another Bruin likely to have a bigger impact in Game 4 would be Tuukka Rask. Although Rask wasn’t bad by any stretch there were certainly a pair of goals he’d like to have back as he appeared to lose his angle of the net on the second Marleau goal.
For Toronto, after being pulled in Game 2, Frederik Andersen returned as the first star of Game 3 turning away 40 shots. Andersen had a save-of-the-year candidate as he robbed Pastrnak of an open net with a desperation dive that saw the blade of his stick deny the puck from entering the net.
Viewing Information
Date: Thursday, April 19
Start Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
Venue: Air Canada Centre
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Series Lead: Boston leads 2-1
TV Channel: NBCSN,CBC, TVAS, NESN
Live Stream: NBCSN
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There’s no question the Bruins will be better in Game 4 but have the Maple Leafs found their confidence and will it be enough to even the series heading back to Boston? Toronto saw several key players record their first points of the playoffs in Game 3 as the club is no longer hanging their heads in doubt.
However, with the Bruins knowing they can put the Maple Leafs on the brink of elimination with a Game 4 victory and potentially end the series in five games in Boston, both teams have plenty of motivation heading into the contest.
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