Maple Leafs and Bruins Played the Weirdest Game 7 – The Hockey Writers – Toronto Maple Leafs

Game 7 is the most exciting game in hockey. It’s the one where everything is on the line and the one that gets your blood pumping. It’s the game that we all dreamt of playing as we skated on the local rink or a frozen pond. Last night, the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Boston Bruins had a Game 7 date that had the hockey world talking.

Everyone thought it would be a battle from puck drop until the final buzzer rang, but it wasn’t. NHL fans are used to seeing the most exciting and intense hockey when two teams are tied and an ultimate game is to be played.

Both Teams Came Out Flat and Scared

Last night, though, it wasn’t the case. Both teams looked afraid rather than pumped up and ready to roar. Strangely, it felt like a boxing fight in which the boxers kept dancing around each other without anyone lunging forward toward his opponent. The kind of fight that would have fans screaming: “Get on with it!” For Canadiens’ fans, it looked oddly familiar as it was a startling reminder of how the team played in overtime under Dominique Ducharme. Like the former Canadiens’ bench boss, the teams seemed to hope the other team would tire itself out, but it never happened.

Of course, fans can appreciate a good goalie battle, but in a goalless tie after 40 minutes, neither goaltender had to perform miracles. There were shots, but none that were particularly trying. On social media, fans of the teams and hockey fans who were waiting to be entertained wondered when the show would start.

It seemed like the stage had been set but all of the acts had been so tamed that there was no build-up to the final scene. With Auston Matthews back in the lineup for the ultimate game and Ilya Samsonov in as Joseph Woll was injured, there was potential for a lot of drama. Emotions should have been running high, but they weren’t.

The Awakening

It took until halfway through the third frame before the Maple Leafs finally woke up from their deep slumber, but they would fall asleep again at the worst possible time later. It was William Nylander, once again, who broke through. The winger has scored the Leafs’ last three goals. With so much talent on the roster, that’s unacceptable, quite frankly.  

With their back against the wall and contemplating the real possibility of their own demise, Boston got to work and equalized not even a minute and a half after the visitors had taken the lead. It looked as if…