BRUINS AT MAPLE LEAFS
7 p.m. EST CBC, NBCSN, NESN, TVAS
Best-of-7 series tied 1-1
Game Day Report: Stanley Cup Playoff Edition – Game 3
Monday-Funday!!! Game 3 of the series plays tonight at Scotia Bank Arena in Toronto. After a convincing win in Game 1 the Leafs came out flat in Game 2 against a Boston Bruins squad that had predictably stepped up their game.
From the drop of the puck the Bruins implemented their game as they hammered any Leafs player that went near a puck. Did it work? You’re god damn right it did. The B’s were relentless in pursuit of the puck and the body and as we have seen many times this past season this group of Leafs folded up shop, conceded the puck and plenty of free time and space on their way to an embarrassing loss.
In the process, Leafs lightning rod Nazem Kadri, one player who tried to spark his team, found himself ejected from the game and currently in front of the aptly name DOPeS for an in person hearing. Likely outcome is a minimum suspension of 5 games.
So, an already small, timid team now exchanges a feisty (at least sometimes) Kadri for well known heavyweight MMA expert Tyler Ennis. Just kidding, wanted to see who was paying attention. With Kadri out it appears William Nylander will shift to center and spark plug Tyler Ennis will suit up on the 4th line wing. Say way you want about Ennis and the size he contributes but this guy comes to play every night and he doesn’t back down from anyone. Maybe that will rub off on the group.
Strategy:
Bruins
Expect more of the same from Game 2 from the Bruins. It’s their game plan, their strategy, their identity and it works well for them.
Leafs
Compete. Go hard between the whistles. Move the puck quickly and with purpose. Most importantly move their feet and dictate the pace of play.
As much as I’m tired of the Coaches platitudes and Babdoms I think he summed it up perfectly when asked about turning the page to Game 3
Mike Babcock on turning the page to Game 3 vs. Boston: "The team that played the hardest won Game 1, the team that played the hardest won Game 2. I think one team played well in Game 1 and one team played well in Game 2. I don’t think both teams have played yet."
— Kristen Shilton (@kristen_shilton) April 15, 2019
- Bruins Projected Lineup
Brad Marchand – Patrice Bergeron – David Pastrnak
Jake DeBrusk – David Krejci – Karson Kuhlman
Danton Heinen – Charlie Coyle – David Backes
Joakim Nordstrom – Noel Acciari – Chris Wagner
Zdeno Chara – Charlie McAvoy
Torey Krug – Brandon Carlo
Matt Grzelcyk – Steven Kampfer
Tuukka Rask
Jaroslav Halak
Scratched: Paul Carey, Zane McIntyre
Injured: Sean Kuraly (broken hand), John Moore (upper body), Marcus Johansson (illness), Kevan Miller (lower body), Connor Clifton (upper body)
- Maple Leafs Projected Lineup
Zach Hyman – John Tavares – Mitchell Marner
Andreas Johnsson – Auston Matthews – Kasperi Kapanen
Patrick Marleau – William Nylander – Connor Brown
Tyler Ennis – Frederik Gauthier – Trevor Moore
Morgan Rielly – Ron Hainsey
Jake Muzzin – Nikita Zaitsev
Jake Gardiner – Travis Dermott
Frederik Andersen
Michael Hutchinson
Scratched: Nic Petan, Justin Holl, Igor Ozhiganov, Martin Marincin, Calle Rosen, Garret Sparks, Nazem Kadri
Injured: Hopefully some Pride
Which version of the Leafs shows up tonight? The speedy, confident and fully engaged group we saw in Game 1 (Dr. Jekyll) or the timid, scared and disinterested group we saw in Game 2 (Mr. Hyde)?
Go Leafs Go!!!
***Update:
The decision on the Kadri hearing has been released. He is suspended for the remainder of the 1st Round of Playoffs vs Boston.
Minimum three, maximum of five. https://t.co/VHZFUHXwHU
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) April 15, 2019
