Incredible game in Boston tonight in the 2-2 series between the Maple Leafs and Bruins, and I watched every second.
Matthews broke a scoreless tie with his fourth goal of the series. Honestly, this could be the Maple Leafs year, as the number one seed is bounced on both sides (Calgary went down 5-1 tonight in Alberta to the Avs).
This is the first time in NHL history that both number one seeds have been eliminated in the opening round of the NHL playoffs.
Toronto will now be tasked with closing it out in Toronto on Easter Sunday. WOW.
On a night where a terrorist attack happened in Toronto, on a night where the Columbus Blue Jackets were eliminated by the Washington Capitals in game six here in Columbus. The Toronto Maple Leafs played game six in their city like their lives were on the line. These guys sacrificed so much to force a game seven for their city, overcoming all odds and trying to advance in a series they trailed 2-0 and 3-1.
The Maple Leafs entered as underdogs, but I saw a team play as a team. Frederick Andersen several times was out of position, only to have a Toronto skater make the save for him. Andersen made so many improbable saves on his own. He stopped 32 of 33 shots. Boston took the lead 1-0, but Toronto charged back from there and wouldn't be denied.
Auston Matthews had an assist waved off for goalie interference on the Leafs. But this team is gutty. They'll look to him Wednesday night to do something he's never done before in his career. The biggest goal in the biggest moment wins and advances. One of these tremendous teams has to go home.
The winner Wednesday night gets to face the #1 seed Lightning.
Game three was an absolute dream of a game for the Maple Leafs. I'm not sure if it's the apex of the entire season or not at this point.
So I'm trying to savor as much as I can of it before Thursday night arrives. The Leafs are installed as early -115 to -110 slight favorites over the Bruins. They went off at -105 the other night, so they have appeared to at least halt the Bruin momentum for the time being in the eyes of oddsmakers.
Great read here at Yahoo! about Auston Matthews answering the bell in game three with the biggest goal of the year.
My team really did it. I watched the entire game. The Maple Leafs will not be swept in futility as it looked in games one and two in Boston. My favorite player rose at the big moment and scored the biggest goal of the game to give his team the final lead.
This was an incredible game. The Leafs are very much alive; for now. Trying to hang on until Nazem Kadri returns from suspension and extend this series out long.
Here's a look at Auston Matthews' first goal of these playoffs, a beautiful snipe that gave the Maple Leafs a 3-2 lead. A lead that would hold up (Patrick Marleau later scored his second goal of the game to make it 4-2).
Frederick Andersen stood on his head for several saves to keep this a 3-2 game. These teams really played hard, and fast paced. Zdeno Chara scored an incredible goal to make it 2-2. This was action packed for three periods. The Toronto crowd was outstanding from the anthem to the final whistle.
It was a Monday night in Toronto, and all was safe and well for a night. The Maple Leafs extended the season against the seemingly unstoppable Bruins; for at least a game.
-I got to see Tyler Seguin, and although he didn't register any scoring it was pretty cool to know I saw him play.
-The Blue Jackets crowd was into it, and there were Bruins fans everywhere. Where do they all come from?
-Saturday Night is definitely Hockey Night.
Love then they play this song on Hockey Night:
Here's Tim Thomas, the Stanley Cup MVP from last year. The guy registered several saves where he stood on his head. It really did remind me of when I read the book 'The Game' by Ken Dryden. It was like he stood back there in goal not even knowing how or when the game would come to him. But when it did it was time to twist, contort, and be as agile as a leopard.
Above is a view from up in the bleeds at Nationwide Arena. When the Oil come to town I'll make sure I keep score and have better seats.
This is a picture of the World Champions bench.
Zdeno Chara. The baddest man in hockey. And I got to see him score a goal. ZING.
My wife really likes this shot. This is during the National Anthem.
And this is the Blue Jackets anthem guy, Gene. I know this because the crowd yelled it. Anthems are a big deal in hockey. I love it!
The day has arrived, and tonight after game 7 the NHL season will end and a new Stanley Cup Champion will be crowned.
These two teams will be forever married in history; the Boston Bruins and the Vancouver Canucks. Many are predicting that this champion will be decided due to an unlikely hero.
We expect to be much more involved on this blog starting with the NHL Draft at the end of this month and into next season. Watching the Oilers chase their own Stanley Cup dreams will be something we'll follow on a game by game basis beginning next October.
But all is not forgotten with the 2010-2011 season. After all, this is the season that we fell in love with the game of hockey. This is the season that we studied the game, attended two games live, watched the Winter Classic, went skating several times, and watched some high school hockey games on Friday nights.
It's a great and glorious game filled with tradition and the finest trophy in sports. For these reasons, we'll be tuning in tonight. And although we're in the heart of America and it would be easy to pull for Tyler Seguin and the Bruins; it's also hard not to be happy that a Canadian team has the opportunity to bring the cup back to the roots where the sport was born on frozen ponds.
Daniel Sedin guaranteed victory in game 7. Something has to give. It all goes down tonight.
The Oilers remained stuck on 48 points and in last place in the entire NHL. In the closing minutes, Taylor Hall ripped off a whistling slap shot from the bottom of the screen that flew just wide of the space in goal, and the Bruins hung on to the win. Tyler vs. Taylor round 1 goes to the Bruins.
It wasn't a particularily memorable night for either Taylor or Tyler.
Seguin: -1 in 9:32
Hall: -2 in 19:52
Gilbert Brule looked really good in his game back 1G, +1, 50% on faceoffs 4 hits.
Hall has 20 games left in his rookie season and 40 points tallied. You'd like to see him somehow get to 50 or 55, with 30 goals. But it's looking unlikely.
