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Boston Bruins: 5 keys to victory in Game 7

By Dave Stevenson

TORONTO, ON - APRIL 23: Tuukka Rask #40 of the Boston Bruins plays the puck with teammates Matt Grzelcyk #48 and David Krejci #46 against James van Riemsdyk #25 of the Toronto Maple Leafs in Game Six of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Air Canada Centre on April 23, 2018 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Mark Blinch/NHLI via Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - APRIL 23: Tuukka Rask #40 of the Boston Bruins plays the puck with teammates Matt Grzelcyk #48 and David Krejci #46 against James van Riemsdyk #25 of the Toronto Maple Leafs in Game Six of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Air Canada Centre on April 23, 2018 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Mark Blinch/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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Can the Boston Bruins pull off a win at home in Game 7? 

The Boston Bruins came into their first-round series against the Toronto Maple Leafs with a ton of confidence. This showed in the first four games, as the Bruins immediately grabbed a 3-1 series lead. However, the resilient Leafs have won two straight games, forcing a Game 7 on Wednesday, April 25.

Game 7 will be an important one for the Bruins. Boston has done a lot of great things during the regular season, but all of it will be for naught if they don’t win tonight. The Bruins, for better or for worse, have their backs against the wall. That’s when fans find out what a team is made of.

Here are five keys to victory in game 7 for the Bruins.

1. Score Early

Toronto’s going to come out strong. They’re a fast and skilled team. However, the Maple Leafs are also an inexperienced team. The best thing the Boston Bruins can do to help their chances of winning is put them behind the eight-ball early.

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Of course, that’s easier said than done. The Bruins have scored just four goals in the past two games. They’ve been unable to put the Maple Leafs away and now it’s biting them in the butt. The Bruins have made things far more difficult than necessary. But if they can get on the board early and make Toronto uncomfortable, that should give Boston an edge.

2. Earn The Paycheck

Tuukka Rask is one of the highest paid goalies in the NHL. He has overcome several down years to be worth his salary this season. That said, if Rask does poorly tonight, that’s what fans are going to remember. It will be a long offseason for him if he can’t steal a game for the Bruins on Wednesday.

These are the moments Boston paid Rask for. The Bruins need him to lock down and win a huge game for them. This is what franchises goaltenders live for. Rask has been poor in elimination games throughout his career, but he can re-write his narrative tonight.

3. Power Play

The Bruins have been unable to capitalize on their even-strength chances during the past two games. Teams with a potent power-play can make up for a lack of even-strength scoring by scoring with an extra man. During the past two games, the Bruins have only converted on one of their eight man advantages. If Boston can get their power-play going, that would give them a much-needed scoring boost.

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4. Crash The Net

Give credit to Maple Leafs goaltender Frederik Andersen, he’s been outstanding in the past two games. He’s stopped virtually everything he has seen, especially when the score has been close. Maybe the Bruins should make it harder for Andersen to see. In the first four games, Boston was able to get bodies in front of him.

Aside from some isolated incidents in games 5 and 6, they haven’t been doing that lately. To score goals in the postseason, you have to go to the primary goal-scoring area – the cease. David Backes is an excellent screener. He needs to set the tone early by getting in Andersen’s face.

5. Play Smart

The Boston Bruins haven’t done too much right in the past two games. But one thing they have done well is staying out of the penalty box. The Maple Leafs have a lethal power-play, so the Bruins can’t afford to give them opportunities. Boston is the more experienced team, so they have a bit of an advantage over Toronto. They must keep that advantage.

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