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David Pastrnak is the Boston Bruins’ Game 7 hero.
Pastrnak scored in overtime Saturday night to punch the Bruins’ ticket to the second round with a 2-1 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs.
The Bruins win the first-round series, 4-3.
B/R Open Ice @BR_OpenIce
PASTA STEPPED UP 🍝
THE BRUINS WIN GAME 7 IN OVERTIME 🔥 pic.twitter.com/O43SSaMup0
Pastrnak had previously been held scoreless in Games 5 and 6 of the series.
His overtime series-winner came after Bruins head coach Jim Montgomery called him out prior to the game.
B/R Open Ice @BR_OpenIce
AND HE TOOK THAT PERSONALLY 😤 pic.twitter.com/ioLLXf71fZ
Ryan Stahl @ryanstahl_
On an unbelievable set play in the game after his coach called him out and said he needed to be better.
Take a bow, David Pastrnak.
AJ Jakubec @TheSuperAJ
Safe to say Pastrnak stepped up.
The Bruins have now successfully avoided becoming the first team in NHL, NBA or MLB history to blow a 3-1 series lead in consecutive playoffs.
That result was far from certain as Boston’s offense struggled through the first two periods Saturday night.
The enthusiasm in the stands at T.D. Garden was momentarily dampened late in the game, when William Nylander put the Leafs on the board midway through the third period.
It only took one minute and 21 seconds for Boston defenseman Hampus Lindholm to get the crowd back on their feet.
B/R Open Ice @BR_OpenIce
HAMPUS LINDHOLM GETS IT RIGHT BACK FOR BOSTON 😱 pic.twitter.com/DwJ7HaKeRj
After Lindholm’s goal, Boston goaltender Jeremy Swayman stood tall to take the Leafs to overtime.
He stopped 27 of 28 shots in regulation, then blocked a potential own goal in the final second of the third period.
B/R Open Ice @BR_OpenIce
THE LEAFS ALMOST HAD A BUZZER BEATER ON A BRUINS’ OWN GOAL 😱 pic.twitter.com/Rz2asCUt6A
Bob Pompeani @KDPomp
Jeremy Swayman incredible in this game and series
179 Toronto shots against Swayman who has stopped 170 of them in this series
1-1. Game 7 heads to Overtime
Bill Yelenak @byelenak
Bruins almost lost that with seconds to go. I don’t know how Swayman keeps doing this. He’s simply incredible. The Bruins offense needs to show up.
This is the second consecutive series in which the Bruins have played a Game 7 overtime.
When the puck dropped for the fourth period, Boston faced the possibility of repeating the results of the 2023 first round, in which the Bruins lost in Game 7 overtime to the Panthers in a very similar series:
Julian McKenzie @jkamckenzie
Boston’s first round against Florida last year: W-L-W-W-OTL-L-OTL
Boston’s first round against Toronto this year: W-L-W-W-OTL-L-OT…
Pastrnak chased away the ghosts of series past by being the first player to reach the puck after a Lindholm dump-in caromed off the boards and directly in front of the net.
Mark Lazerus @MarkLazerus
Pastrnak knew exactly how that puck was gonna carom off that spot in the corner. Looked like a Charles Oakley anticipating a rebound.
Chris Cerullo @CJC_95
David Pastrnak gets the goal but that play from Hampus Lindholm was on purpose and absolutely insane.
Leafs fans were frustrated that Pastrnak was able to skate past Leafs players including Toronto star Mitch Marner on his way to chasing critical dump-in.
Jack Han @JhanHky
Marner missed the cutoff on Pastrnak when the puck got dumped in.
Fitz @FitzGSN_
Mitch Marner watching Pastrnak skate right by him on the OT winner pic.twitter.com/tziYG6QHLd
Toronto’s loss continues eight straight years of regular-season success followed by playoff heartbreak.
The Leafs have won just one playoff series in those eight trips to the postseason.
Jen @NHLhistorygirl
It has been 65 years since the Leafs defeated the Bruins in a playoff series.
If memory serves, it has been 20 years since the Leafs won a Game 7.
Bodey Cooper @bodeyc
The Bruins are just the Leafs’ kryptonite. Bruins and Panthers in the second round.
The Bruins only have one day off to celebrate the first-round series win before preparing for their next opponent. Boston will seek redemption against the Panthers when their second-round matchup begins Monday night on the road.
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