The Boston Bruins simply didn't show up.
The Toronto Maple Leafs took down the Bruins in Game 1 of their first round series 4-1 on Thursday night to take a 1-0 series lead.
Things looked encouraging for the Bruins to start when Patrice Bergeron opened the scoring at 9:31 of the first on the power play. Brad Marchand delivered a crisp pass to a streaking Bergeron who put it past a diving Frederick Andersen.
Just seven minutes later, Jake Muzzin threw a shot through a bunch of skaters, deflecting off the post and to Mitch Marner who put it past a confused Tuukka Rask. Rask finished with 29 saves on 32 shots.
What an unlucky bounce!#NHLBruins- 1#MapleLeafs- 1 pic.twitter.com/24hbUHJ89l
— Boston Bruins on CLNS (@BruinsCLNS)
April 11, 2019 After that, speed and breakaways became the Bruins' kryptonite.
The turning point came in the second period when Jake DeBrusk mishandled the puck at the blue line, which led to a Mitch Marner breakaway. DeBrusk tripped him, causing Marner to get a penalty shot.
Marner converted and embarrassed Rask in the process to make it 2-1 Leafs.
Filthy move by Mitch Marner.2-1 Leafs. pic.twitter.com/nV7OxdSJMO
— Conor Ryan (@ConorRyan_93)
April 12, 2019 The worst part for the Bruins may not even have been losing the game. Jake DeBrusk seemed like he was in constant pain after this collision.
DeBrusk still clearly hurting out there. He was down for a bit after slamming into the boards on this sequence. pic.twitter.com/DHahl4lkXW
— Conor Ryan (@ConorRyan_93)
April 12, 2019 Things would only get worse for the Bruins defensive front. With Matt Grzelcyk in on the forecheck, Marcus Johansson was left back on defense with Connor Clifton. Nazem Kadri would make the Bruins look silly as he threw a pass through Clifton, Johansson and Grzelcyk to a streaking William Nylander.
These goals highlighted a key storyline for the Bruins throughout the game -- defensively, they couldn't match the Maple Leafs speed and the amount of odd-man rushes and breakaways proved it.
If there was a bright spot for the Bruins it was Charlie Coyle and Marcus Johansson who played their best games for the black and gold.
Kadri takes down DeBrusk and continues chirping at him on the bench. pic.twitter.com/fnmfvdAgiG
— Flintor (@TheFlintor)
April 12, 2019 Looks like the Bruins are going to need rockets taped to their skates in Game 2.
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