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Bruins vs. Maple Leafs Game 6 Start Time, Live Stream, TV schedule

By Derian Carmichael

BOSTON, MA - APRIL 21: Boston Bruins Jake DeBrusk, right, collides along the boards with Toronto Maple Leafs Nikita Zaitsev, left, during the first period. The Boston Bruins host the Toronto Maple Leafs in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the TD Garden in Boston on April 21, 2018. (Photo by John Tlumacki/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - APRIL 21: Boston Bruins Jake DeBrusk, right, collides along the boards with Toronto Maple Leafs Nikita Zaitsev, left, during the first period. The Boston Bruins host the Toronto Maple Leafs in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the TD Garden in Boston on April 21, 2018. (Photo by John Tlumacki/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) /
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The Boston Bruins will attempt to do what two teams did yesterday by winning Game 6 and their opening round playoff series on the road

The Boston Bruins watched the Pittsburgh Penguins and Nashville Predators eliminate both their opponents in decisive fashion despite being the visiting team. However, unlike the Penguins and Predators’ opponents, the gap in talent between Boston and the Toronto Maple Leafs seems significantly smaller. The two teams will face off in Game 6 at Air Canada Centre on Monday starting at 7:00 p.m. ET.

The Maple Leafs were able to force a Game 6 after defeating the Bruins on their home ice in a contest that felt like a tale of two games. For the first half of Game 5, it seemed Toronto was in complete control. They even managed to chase Tuukka Rask from the net after earning a 4-1 lead.

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After the goaltending switch was made and Anton Khudobin entered the crease, it seemed to spark the Bruins. Boston carried the momentum for the entire second half of Game 5 while the Maple Leafs desperately tried to hang on before eventually earning a 4-3 victory.

Thankfully for Maple Leaf fans, their team was able to win the game, as another playoff loss to the Bruins after holding a 4-1 lead might have folded the franchise. It was only five years ago Toronto held a 4-1 lead in Game 7 of a first-round matchup against Boston with 10 minutes remaining in the third period before blowing the lead and the series in overtime.

Toronto is hoping by hanging on to this 4-1 lead they managed to exorcise the demons of previous failures while being able to force another Game 7 back in Boston.

From a Bruins standpoint, it’s hard to find many faults in their Game 5 loss. No doubt they would have preferred a better start to the game after giving up two early goals. However, the way Boston was able to take control of the entire second half of the game suggests there shouldn’t be too much worry about their performance entering Game 6.

The only exception when it comes to concerns for the Bruins may be Patrice Bergeron who appears to be dealing with a significant injury. Bergeron missed Game 4 and although he dressed in Game 5, he clearly wasn’t playing at the level Boston is used to seeing from their best player. Depending on how severe the injury is, it could be a situation to follow throughout Game 6.

Live Stream Info

Date: Monday, April 23
Start Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
Venue: Air Canada Centre
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Series Lead: Boston leads 3-2
TV Channel: NBCSN, CBC, TVAS (Canada)
Live Stream: NBCSN, SN (Canada)

For the Maple Leafs, the team is still waiting for Auston Matthews to make an impact in the series and there is no better time than in Game 6. Matthews assisted on the opening goal of Game 5 but after that was relatively quiet on the evening. It was only his second point of the series as he’s not shown the offensive talents seen throughout the regular season.

To make matters worse for Matthews, he also carries a plus/minus rating of minus-four which is the worst rating of any player on either team in the series. Coach Mike Babcock has been juggling his line mates the entire series which could be a factor for the poor play but it’s now or never for the young superstar. Should he fail to perform in Game 6 it could follow him throughout the summer and even into next season.

Next: Power Ranking the Stanley Cup Playoff Teams

Prior to the start of the series, many experts predicted this series would go seven games. With the Maple Leafs on home ice and desperate for a win to save their season they are set up to extend the series to a Game 7. However, last time the teams played in Toronto in Game 4, Boston was able to escape the city with a 3-1 victory without even needing their best player as Bergeron wasn’t in the lineup.

Be sure to check out all of our Stanley Cup Playoffs coverage and check us out on Twitter at @Puck_Prose!

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