The Bruins were forced to go into battle in last night’s pivotal Game 4 without their best all-around player, Patrice Bergeron.
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Cassidy, whose team leads the series 2-1, spoke to the officials at the beginning of the second period and wanted to know who of the four (two referees, two linesmen) chose to give Nash the two-minute penalty. “I’d prefer if they not guess and erred on the side of caution”, said Cassidy, whose team still leads the first-round series 2-1. In two games, the Plekanec line ceded just two points to Bergeron, Pasternak and Marchand after they combined for 20 points in the first two games.
J.T. Miller also scored and had two assists, and Vezina Trophy finalist Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped three breakaways in making 27 saves as the Lightning bounced back from a loss in Game 3 to tale a 3-1 lead in the first-round series. If the Bruins can shore up a few defensive mistakes and take advantage of their offensive opportunities, they can take a 3-1 lead in the series. On Thursday at 7:00 p.m. ET at Air Canada Centre, the Leafs can tie the series at two games each. And it certainly looks like the Bruins are still the superior team, even as the Maple Leafs enjoyed their moment in the postseason sun on home ice. For Boston, forward Riley Nash returned for Game 3 and it sounds like defenseman Matt Grzelcyk will be back for Game 4 (replacing Nick Holden) after he was out for Game 3 with a lower-body injury of his own. That plus a regular spot back on the power play saw Rielly finish with 52 points, the best mark of his career and nearly double last season’s 27.
Donskoi scored and then set up Marcus Sorensen in the opening four minutes of the second period to seize control of the game and series.
Rickard Rakell scored a power-play goal for Anaheim, which has scored three goals all series including just one at even strength. “We came into that game with more motivation, we came in more competitive”. That game is over and we are on to today.
“You need those plays”, said Rielly, who had two assists Monday.
The Toronto Maple Leafs looked like a completely different team at home in Game 3 compared to the two games in Boston.
Rask was sensational all night, and by far outdueled Frederik Andersen at the other end after Andersen put on a show in Game 3 with a 40-save performance.
“End of the day they can be better”.
“I didn’t think we had everyone going”.
The Bruins are 0-5 in their last five road games. Marleau took no time and snapped one right by.
Grzelcyk played in both Game 1 and Game 2, averaging 16:30 of time on ice while logging one shot on goal and a plus-1 rating.
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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.
