Game Preview: Maple Leafs look to extend series lead

Toronto Maple Leafs at Boston Bruins

Maple Leafs lead Bruins 1-0

8:00PM - Thanks NBC

Location: Toronto Dominion Gahden

Broadcast/Streaming: CBC, NBC, TVA Sports, NHL Live

Opponent SBNation Site: Stanley Cup of Chowder

For the first time in almost 20 years the Toronto Maple Leafs won the first game of their round one series. They opened the playoffs with one of their best games of the year, getting a solid effort from everyone on the ice. If you were like me and missed the game, here’s the game in six to get you caught up:

Before the game Boston Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy said he was going to dress a lineup for speed. Last night we saw that the Bruins couldn’t match the Leafs in speed, which may mean we’re going to see the Bruins go back to their usually ‘tough to play against style’ which may mean David Backes gets back into the line up, and oh yeah plug in those due for retirement players, That’ll fix everything.

We shouldn’t see many, or any, changes to the Maple Leafs lines for tonight’s game. Why mess with success?

Maple Leafs

Forward Lines

Zach Hyman - John Tavares - Mitch Marner
Andreas Johnsson - Auston Matthews - Kasperi Kapanen
Patrick Marleau - Nazem Kadri - William Nylander
Trevor Moore - Frederik Gauthier - Connor Brown

Tyler Ennis, Nic Petan

Defence Pairings

Morgan Rielly - Ron Hainsey
Jake Muzzin  - Nikita Zaitsev
Jake Gardiner - Travis Dermott

Calle Rosen, Martin Marincin

Goaltenders

Frederik Andersen
Garret Sparks

Boston Bruins

The Bruins held an optional skate this morning, so any line changes will come at game time.

Forward Lines

Brad Marchand - Patrice Bergeron - David Pastrnak
Jake DeBrusk - David Krejci - Karson Kuhlman
Marcus Johansson - Charlie Coyle - Danton Heinen
Joakim Nordstrom - Noel Acciari- Chris Wagner

David Backes

Defence Pairings

Zdeno Chara - Charlie McAvoy
Torey Krug - Brandon Carlo
Matt Grzelcyk - Connor Clifton

Steven Kampfer

Goaltenders

Tuukka Rask
Jaroslav Halak

While we don’t have lines, we do have this note from the Bruins coach:

David Backes is in for the Bruins tonight. Cassidy also “anticipates” DeBrusk will play as well. Wouldn’t get into who comes out yet.

— Kyle Bukauskas (@SNkylebukauskas) April 13, 2019

Round one vs Boston Bruins

Okay, so that doesn’t really tell us anything, but it’s habit by now.

Tonight the Leafs and Bruins take over national television in both the US and Canada. The Maple Leafs will take a 2-0 lead in a first-round series for the first time since 2002, when they went 2-0 up on the New York Islanders.

Remember folks, the Buds are ALL DAY and Go Leafs Go!