Tag Archives: Hockey

Bruins take 3-1 series lead, put Maple Leafs on brink

The Boston Bruins stifled the Toronto Maple Leafs 3-1 in Saturday's Game 4 to move one win away from the second round.

Maple Leafs superstar Auston Matthews didn't return after the second period. Head coach Sheldon Keefe said Matthews' absence was related to an illness and that "the doctors pulled him," per The Athletic's Joshua Kloke.

Toronto has lost six consecutive games on home ice in the playoffs dating back to last year and has been outscored 21-11 in that span.

April 20, 2023 - Game 2 of the first round against the Tampa Bay Lightning - is the Maple Leafs' last playoff win at Scotiabank Arena.

"Nothing wrong with our effort level here tonight," Keefe said, according to The Hockey News' David Alter. "Guys are competing. It's physical hockey. Guys are trying. It's a good team over there. It's limiting us.

"You can question a lot of things, can't question the effort."

Matthews, Mitch Marner, and William Nylander - who made his series debut - were visibly frustrated on the bench during the second period.

"We're not yelling at each other because we hate each other," Marner told reporters. "We just want to be all on the same page to help each other out."

Keefe reiterated that the interaction came from a good place.

"I don't sense any frustration," he said, according to Alter. "Guys are pushing one another, guys are competitive, guys want to win. You know, it's all part of it."

Morgan Rielly said the Maple Leafs' approach hasn't been the issue.

"It's always come down to execution, work ethic," Rielly told reporters when asked if Toronto needs to change their game plan, according to Kloke.

James van Riemsdyk, Brad Marchand, and David Pastrnak found the back of the net for the Bruins. Marner scored Toronto's only goal.

Jeremy Swayman made 25 saves in the victory. He's a perfect 3-0 in his starts in the series. Ilya Samsonov allowed three goals on 17 shots and was replaced by Joseph Woll for the third frame. Woll made five stops in relief.

Game 5 is Tuesday in Boston.

Copyright © 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Matthews exits Game 4 due to illness

Toronto Maple Leafs team doctors pulled Auston Matthews from Game 4 during the second intermission because of an illness, head coach Sheldon Keefe said postgame.

Matthews played the first 40 minutes of the contest but didn't return for the start of the final frame. The Maple Leafs trailed the Boston Bruins 3-0 after two periods and ultimately lost the game 3-1, falling behind 3-1 in the series.

The 26-year-old played through the illness in Game 3 and missed Friday's practice.

"It's not one of those run-of-the-mill everyday type of illnesses that come and go," Keefe said Sunday, according to Chris Johnston of Sportsnet. "This one has lingered. The effects have lingered and gotten worse when he gets on the ice and is asserting himself."

Matthews produced a dominant three-point effort in Toronto's Game 2 win but has otherwise been held off the scoresheet in Round 1.

Matthews won the Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy for the third time in four years this past season, leading the league with 69 goals.

Copyright © 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Stamkos scores twice, Lightning avoid elimination with 6-3 win over Panthers

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Steven Stamkos scored his fourth and fifth goals of the series and the Tampa Bay Lightning avoided elimination with a 6-3 victory over the Florida Panthers in Game 4 of the first-round playoff matchup Saturday night. Game 5 is Monday night at Florida. Only four times in 206 tries has an NHL team rebounded from a 3-0 deficit to win a series. “The odds aren't great being down 3-zip,” Stamkos said. “Three-one, they're a little better. And hopefully next game it's 3-2 and then the

Lightning D Sergachev picks up assist as surprise addition to roster in Game 4 win vs. Panthers

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Tampa Bay defenseman Mikhail Sergachev was a surprise addition to the lineup and had an assist in the Lightning's Game 4 win against the Florida Panthers on Saturday night after being out since early February with a broken left leg. Sergachev had surgery one day after he got hurt during a game at the New York Rangers on Feb. 8. “I felt like a hockey player again.” Sergachev said after the Lightning avoided elimination with 6-3 victory over Panthers. “A little bit tired, obviou

William Nylander returns to Maple Leafs lineup for Game 4 against Bruins

TORONTO — William Nylander has joined the Stanley Cup chase. The Maple Leafs winger was in the lineup for Game 4 of Toronto's first-round playoff series with the Boston Bruins on Saturday night after sitting out the first three contests with an undisclosed injury. Nylander, whose team trailed Boston 2-1 in the best-of-seven Original Six matchup entering play, scored 40 goals for the second consecutive regular season to go along with a career-high 98 points in 2023-24. The 27-year-old also had 10