In the Boston Bruins’ 2-1 overtime victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs, the two teams added to the rich NHL Playoff history of Game 7.
With the Bruins victory, this marks the first time since 2018 that each of the top three teams from a conference, based on standings points, will play in the second round. That year, the top three clubs in both the Eastern and Western Conference played in the round of eight.
The Bruins have won each of the last seven playoff series against the Maple Leafs, dating back to the 1969 Quarterfinal (4-0 Bruins). They are one of three teams to win seven consecutive playoff series against one franchise. The others are the Montreal Canadiens against the Bruins (18 from 1946 to 1987) and the Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Washington Capitals (seven from 1995 to 2017).
Of all the stats about Game 7, the one that was probably the most important to the teams was the one they broke tonight, as both teams were looking to end a stretch of consecutive Game 7 defeats: Boston is 0-3 since the 2019 Stanley Cup Final (0-2 at home), while Toronto is 0-5 since the 2013 Conference Quarterfinals (0-3 on road, all at Boston).
Even before the puck dropped, the two teams took part in the 195th Game 7 in Stanley Cup Playoffs history. They are also the first franchises in NHL history to require a Game 7 in at least four consecutive head-to-head playoff series. The only others to go the distance in at least three straight meetings are the Vancouver Canucks and Calgary Flames (1989 DSF, 1994 CQF, 2004 CQF) and the Capitals and New York Rangers (2012 CSF, 2013 CQF, 2015 R2).
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The Bruins and Maple Leafs have already played more Game 7s than any other franchises, with this set to be their 31st and 27th such contests all-time, respectively. Both clubs rank among the top four all-time in Game 7 wins: Montreal (15-9 in 24 GP), Boston (15-15 in 30 GP), Detroit (14-11 in 25 GP), and Toronto (12-14 in 26 GP).
Game 7 Milestones
The Maple Leafs and Bruins combined to produce the 11th scoreless Game 7 through two periods in Stanley Cup Playoff history. This continues a trend in which since the final contest was played on Tuesday (NSH at VAN, Game 5), the score has been tied or within one goal for 94% of playing time…
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