Bruins-Leafs takeaways: Woll shines in net as Toronto forces Game 7 originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
The Boston Bruins have no more margin for error. They are one more defeat away from blowing a 3-1 series lead in back-to-back seasons.
The Toronto Maple Leafs staved off elimination again with a 2-1 victory in Game 6 of their first-round series versus the Bruins at Scotiabank Arena on Thursday night.
William Nylander scored both of the Leafs’ goals, including a breakaway tally late in the third period.
Morgan Geekie got the Bruins on the board with 0.1 seconds remaining in the game. It was too little, too late.
This series has unfolded almost exactly like last year’s against the Florida Panthers. The B’s split the first two games at home, then won two on the road before losing the next two.
The Bruins defeated the Leafs in Game 7 of the first round at home in 2013, 2018 and 2019. Can they make it four-for-four on Saturday night? Before we look ahead to that matchup, here are three takeaways from Bruins-Leafs Game 6.
Top-six centers not contributing for Bruins
Charlie Coyle and Pavel Zacha both had tremendous regular seasons for the Bruins. Each of them set career highs in points, and they were also really good on faceoffs. Zacha won 54.8 percent of his draws, while Coyle was at 51.6 percent. Those win percentages have plummeted in Round 1. Zacha and Coyle are at 42.7 percent and 46.1 percent, respectively, on faceoffs in this series.
Neither of these veteran centers has scored a goal through six games against the Leafs. Zacha has tallied just two assists. Coyle also has two assists, but both came on the power play. Zero points at 5-on-5 in six games from your top-six centers is nowhere near good enough.
Game 6 was a low point offensively for both players. Coyle tallied just two shots in 18:13 of ice time, while Zacha produced zero shots in 19:26 of action.
The Bruins need much more offensive production from a lot of their forwards, but their top two centers are at the top of the list.
Leafs capitalize after controversial no-call
It took almost 40 minutes of action before we got a goal in this game.
The Leafs opened the scoring with 54.8 seconds remaining in the second period when William Nylander fired a shot that deflected off Charlie McAvoy in front of the net and past Jeremy Swayman. The tally ended a 13-game goal drought for Nylander. It also was his sixth career playoff goal when facing elimination.
The goal likely wouldn’t have happened if the referees…