PREMIUM
Rogers' 10* BRUINS/MAPLE LEAFS SHOWDOWN >> Off 2-0 NHL SWEEP! 23-14-1 L38!
(NHL) Boston vs. Toronto,
Money Line: 108.00 Toronto (Home)
Result: Loss
Money Line: 108.00 Toronto (Home)
Result: Loss
The set-up: The Boston Bruins blew a chance at capturing the East's No. 1 see when they lost a home contest to the Panthers in the team's final game of the regular season. However, The Bruins regrouped quickly and won the first two games of their series with the Maple Leafs, 5-1 and 7-3. The series shifted to Toronto for Game 3 and after almost being left for dead after losing the first two games in Boston, the Maple Leafs were able to reverse the momentum with a 4-2 home win on Monday night. Toronto now has a chance to level the best-of-seven series when it hosts the Boston Bruins in Game 4 on Thursday night.
Boston: The Bruins did not exactly play poorly on Monday, as they were able to get 42 shots on goal but Toronto goaltender Frederik Andersen made 40 saves, his highest total since Feb. 20. Boston's top line of Patrice Bergeron, Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak was "all that" in the opening two games, combining for a collective 20 points but the unit was blanked in Game 3. What's more, Boston goalie Tukka Rask allowed four goals on 30 shots in Game 3 (.867 SP), after allowing just four goals in 60 shots (.933) in winning Games 1 and 2.
Toronto: Knowing that only four teams in history have come back from a 3-0 deficit to win a series, Toronto head coach Mike Babcock was keenly aware of the importance of winning Game 3 and understands his team needs a similar performance Thursday. "If we didn't have success, I thought we were probably going to be done," Babcock said. "(Now), you win one, you're in a best-of-three. We're set up real good that way. ... You still want to be in a better situation and be in the driver's seat. So it's important for us to even it up." While Boston's top line dominated the first two games, Toronto's No. 1 unit was floundering by being held off the scoresheet but star forward Auston Matthews provided the biggest moment for the Maple Leafs by netting the tie-breaking goal in Game 3.
The pick: The Toronto Maple Leafs were a better team than shown by the results of the first two games of their series with the Boston Bruins and they proved just that in Monday 4-2 victory at the Air Canada Centre in Game 3. Game 4 isn't a "must win" contest for Toronto but it's pretty close. A loss would mean a return trip to Boston, where the Bruins won Games 1 and 2 by a combined 12-4 score. Make Toronto a 10* play.
Boston: The Bruins did not exactly play poorly on Monday, as they were able to get 42 shots on goal but Toronto goaltender Frederik Andersen made 40 saves, his highest total since Feb. 20. Boston's top line of Patrice Bergeron, Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak was "all that" in the opening two games, combining for a collective 20 points but the unit was blanked in Game 3. What's more, Boston goalie Tukka Rask allowed four goals on 30 shots in Game 3 (.867 SP), after allowing just four goals in 60 shots (.933) in winning Games 1 and 2.
Toronto: Knowing that only four teams in history have come back from a 3-0 deficit to win a series, Toronto head coach Mike Babcock was keenly aware of the importance of winning Game 3 and understands his team needs a similar performance Thursday. "If we didn't have success, I thought we were probably going to be done," Babcock said. "(Now), you win one, you're in a best-of-three. We're set up real good that way. ... You still want to be in a better situation and be in the driver's seat. So it's important for us to even it up." While Boston's top line dominated the first two games, Toronto's No. 1 unit was floundering by being held off the scoresheet but star forward Auston Matthews provided the biggest moment for the Maple Leafs by netting the tie-breaking goal in Game 3.
The pick: The Toronto Maple Leafs were a better team than shown by the results of the first two games of their series with the Boston Bruins and they proved just that in Monday 4-2 victory at the Air Canada Centre in Game 3. Game 4 isn't a "must win" contest for Toronto but it's pretty close. A loss would mean a return trip to Boston, where the Bruins won Games 1 and 2 by a combined 12-4 score. Make Toronto a 10* play.
