Up 3-1 and Now... Game 7

For anyone who has been watching the Bruins across the first round of the playoffs thus far like myself, you are probably pretty frustrated. I had the Bruins picked to win in 6 with my playoff bracket, and after the first two games I thought I had even overestimated that figure. The Bs absolutely dominated the first two games; Pastrnak amassing 9 points in two games and breaking records that have been held for decades. The series was 2-0 Boston going into Toronto and it was seriously looking like we were running away with things, even after the loss in Toronto we came back and won the second... and then Toronto forced a game 5... and then a Game 6... and now... game 7.

In all honesty the Leafs should have been sent packing multiple times, most importantly there is absolutely no way that the Bruins should have lost game 5 at home. We doubled their shots and attempts and outshot them 20-5 in the third period, but still walked away without the W. That game has shaped the remained of the picture for this round for the Bs. It is obvious that Rask had his part in losing that game; he takes full responsibility for that and good on him for doing so, but he wasn't alone. I can't even count how many times we have been dominating in the offensive zone, and then given up a stupid turnover leading to an odd-man rush and a goal. Those situations have to count for half of our goals against this series.

The defense needs to step up their game and fix that; we absolutely cannot be giving up odd-man rushes as often as we are and what is even worse than that is the number of turnovers we are giving up in our own end, especially in game 6. Our top two defensive pairing Chara and McAvoy are letting us down in that department and that HAS to change if the Bruins are going to move past the first round.

But the real reason we are in extreme danger of being knocked out of the first round after a 3-1 series lead is a single player on their team: Frederik Andersen. If we are being honest, he played like trash in the first two games. He has been known as a hot/cold player and it is now abundantly clear that he started off cold and is now hot. The Bruins have outshot the Leafs in almost every game this series, even the losses, but what has made the difference is the inhuman saves that Andersen is making every game since game 3. He is the sole reason that the Bruins did not end the Leafs in games 4, 5 AND 6. He has made a slew of highlight real stick and glove saves over the last 4 games and has absolutely robbed our top line of an incredible number of would-be goals. And do be honest with you, I think it is starting to get into the Bruins heads. Instead of playing our game in game 6 we tried to change things up and the number of shots we were forced to take from the point was abysmal. We are not a team that scores primarily from the point, we score by taking the puck to the net and getting scrappy like we did in the first two games. In games that we have won the top line combined for an astounding 26 points, and in losses...0... that really says something. The top line is getting frustrated, the fans are getting frustrated, and the Leafs are surging behind a single player carrying his team through the first round. It is not that our top line has been playing badly, actually it is quite the contrary; they just have not had any puck luck for the last few games, hopefully for the Bruins hopes of a playoff run that is behind them.

One guy in the black and gold that I have been impressed with is Jake Debrusk. That guy has been an absolute workhorse on the ice and is playing his game, regardless who he is matched up against. He has a modest number of points so far, but WOW when you watch this guy play you have to see a bright future for him. His puck skill is up there with the best of them and he has no apprehension in fighting in the dirty areas for the puck. I say pull Rick Nash down to the fourth line, bench Wingles and pull up Donato to replace Nash on the second line so that we have two lines playing the fast-paced skill game that we are going up against with the leafs.

One thing is for sure: if the Bruin's top line does not find a way to beat Andersen, their season will be over tomorrow.