Remarkably, the Toronto Maple Leafs and Boston Bruins will play a Game 7 on Saturday night in Boston as part of their first-round Stanley Cup Playoffs series in 2024. Toronto has managed to win the last two games to force the pivotal game for this weekend, even though the cards are stacked heavily against them.

The Bruins’ incapacity to capitalize on the situation is what makes this development so upsetting. In addition to trailing the Maple Leafs 3-1 in the series, Toronto has been without Auston Matthews, their greatest player.

Due to a medical condition, Matthews was taken off the ice before the third quarter in Game 4. Following his injury, he was not available for the Maple Leafs’ victories in Games 5 and 6.

Even though none of the Bruins’ best players was hurt and out of the game, one of them was. After Thursday night’s 2-1 loss, head coach Jim Montgomery yelled at David Pastrnak.

Montgomery stated, “This time of year, your best players need to be your best players.” “I consider the effort to be really great. In crucial situations, they must provide some big-time plays. It’s something that [Brad] Marchand has done the entire series. Pastranak must take the initiative.

Boston was fortunate to remain level at the end of the first quarter despite being outshot 12-1. They had a very poor start to the sixth game. Though there were opportunities to open the score in the second period, William Nylander opened the score for the Maple Leafs.

“Our start again is unacceptable,” Montgomery remarked. “We need to figure out how to get going on time. They’re starting on time, Toronto. They are gaining the upper hand and the upper momentum. However, it shouldn’t take us that long.