The 2024 NHL Playoffs have officially begun, with the Boston Bruins winning the first round series against the Toronto Maple Leafs, 2 wins and 1 loss. After a close Game 3, the team will have one more day of rest before Game 4 in Toronto on Saturday, April 27th.
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So far, this series has lived up to the rivalry between the two teams. After an aggressive and hit-heavy first game, their aggressive style of play hasn't slowed down yet. In fact, they had a combined 133 hits in Game 3, five more than the playoff record. There were some great plays up and down the lineup, and some unbelievable saves at the net.
Through the first three games, the Bruins have had unexpected successes (Who made Johnny Beecher the first goal scorer on a bingo card?) and had top players come in clutch when needed (No. Like Brad Marchand in the 3rd race). . However, some players didn't get the start they wanted in the playoffs. Still, Game 4 is a chance for them to turn things around and put on a great performance on the ice.
Danton Heinen
After a phenomenal 2023-24 regular season, Danton Heinen has been pretty quiet in this series so far. He had a nice assist on Marchand's game-winning goal in Game 3, but other than that he didn't really stand out on the ice. So far in this series, they have won 1 point and are minus 1. Additionally, he took just three shots in the series, giving him a shooting percentage of 0.0%. In the second game, there were no shots on goal.
Heinen showed throughout the season that he is capable of more than that. Since arriving in Boston on PTO, he has become an unexpected but essential addition to the team. He has played up and down the lineup and is currently playing on the third line with Trent Frederic and James van Riemsdyk as head coach Jim Montgomery tests Morgan Geeky on the wing. .
Heinen is someone to watch in Game 4. He has proven to be a very capable player and he is coming off a season in which he scored 17 goals in 74 games and collected 36 points. If he can step up, he could be a real difference maker.
brad marchand
Before the monster third period of Game 3, Marchand had been relatively quiet in this series (will Marchand ever be completely quiet?). I almost didn't put him on this list, but one great period can't fully make up for Game 1 and Game 2, which weren't what people would normally expect from him. He can do more and hopefully he shows that in Game 4.
Marchand needs to carry that momentum into the third period of Game 3. He scored two goals, including the game-winning goal, and showed the ferocious play everyone expects from the Bruins captain. If he can continue that in Game 4, it will make a big difference. There's a reason he's a leader on this team, and when he's playing well, the team is at its best. He's also a guy who can get inside an opponent's head and cause serious problems there. He definitely seems to have entered the Leafs' minds after Game 3, and the next game is just a chance for him to cause more chaos with a great performance.
pavel zaca
Pavel Zacha has stepped up in a big way this season, joining Charlie Coyle as the top two centers following the retirements of Patrice Bergeron and David Kureishi. He was someone I thought could end up being the MVP of the series heading into the postseason, scoring a career-high 59 points in 78 games while adjusting to his new role. was.
But so far, through the first three games, Zasha has been pretty quiet on the ice. He has performed well in the faceoff circle, which is obviously important, but he currently only has one assist on David Pastrnak's goal in Game 2. He was a great assist, but the Bruins need more power at first-line center.
Game 4 will be a fresh start and an opportunity for him to step up his game. Zaka was outstanding against the Panthers last year with six assists in seven games. He has the ability to be a more impactful player, and I hope he can make a great pass like he did for Pastrnak's goal or score a goal himself in Game 4.
Special Award: Matt Grzelcyk
The Bruins' defense has been questionable multiple times throughout the season and has been their weakest area so far this series. They have been helped by great play in net from Jeremy Swayman and Linus Ullmark. The entire group's blue line will need to step up for Game 4, but Matt Grzelcyk will be one of the names to keep an eye on if he plays.
After a tough second game, he did not play in the third game. He and Andrew Peek, who has been in the hospital weekly since Game 2 with an upper-body injury, were replaced by Mason Lowrey and Parker Wotherspoon. Grzelcyk could return for Game 4. If he comes back, he's a player who needs to step up.
At his best, Grzelcyk can be an effective but elusive player on the ice. However, in Game 2, they struggled with Toronto's pressure and it showed in their play. He famously sat on Montgomery's bench during the 2023 series against the Florida Panthers. His regular season in 2023-24 wasn't great, but it wasn't necessarily bad either.
The pressure is on Grzelcyk, who became a free agent this summer. If he plays in Game 4 (which is very likely), he's definitely the guy the Bruins need to step up and reach his full potential and put on a great performance. .
bring momentum
Overall, the Bruins played well in this series. They got help from up and down the lineup, which was essential to getting into the series. So far, there have been seven different goal scorers, including players like Beecher and Brandon Carlo who aren't typical point getters. Additionally, the power play has been the best it's been all season, and the penalty kill continues to be a strength.
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Game 4 will be an interesting match. The Maple Leafs are a tough opponent and don't want to lose at 1-3 in the series, but the Bruins will be fighting for a chance to end the series in Game 5 at home in Boston. As long as the team keeps applying pressure and plays a little more responsibly in their own zone, this is a winnable game and series for the team.
