Once again, it’s that time of the year, when the Boston Bruins face the Toronto Maple Leafs in Game 7 at TD Garden. It has been an extremely tight series so far, with neither of the two teams able to win two consecutive contests. The Bruins have never led the series, but now they will have a chance to advance to the second round and play the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Before looking at what’s ahead, the B’s have to focus on what awaits them as of now. But fans will look to the past. The Bruins are no strangers to a winner-take-all game.
After the Bruins missed the playoffs on several occasions, they made their return to the battle for the Stanley Cup in 2008. In the first round, they met the Montreal Canadiens. The Bruins were able to erase a 3-1 series deficit before losing Game 7 in Montreal. The Canadiens won 5-0 in a painful playoff lesson for the Bruins. Next season, the Bruins met their archrivals again. This time, Boston got its revenge as they swept the Canadiens in the first round.
Even though the Bruins won the first round after so many years, they lost in the second round against the Carolina Hurricanes. Once again, they were able to come back from a 3-1 series deficit but were unable to win Game 7, this time played at TD Garden. It was Scott Walker who scored an overtime winner as the Bruins were left stunned.
Later on, in 2010, the Bruins beat the Buffalo Sabres in the first round in six games. In the second round, they met the Philadelphia Flyers. The Bruins suffered their biggest collapse in franchise history, losing the series despite holding a 3-0 series lead. They had the same lead in Game 7, but the Flyers erased a 3-0 lead in the game and the series to complete the upset. For three years in a row, the Bruins lost Game 7.
In 2011, Game 7 misery turned out to be a blessing for the Bruins. In the first round, they met the Canadiens yet again. This time, the Bruins won Game 7, in overtime, thanks to a goal scored by Nathan Horton. Long time coming, but the Bruins finally broke through and won Game 7. In the second round, this time, they finished the sweep of the Philadelphia Flyers. In the third round, there was another Game 7 challenge for the Bruins against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Boston won that game 1-0 thanks to another clutch goal by Horton.
We all remember what happened in the Stanley Cup final in 2011. The Bruins down 2-0 and 3-2, won all three games at TD Garden and won Game 7 in Vancouver 4-0. That was the last time since the Bruins have won a playoff series while trailing and facing elimination in the series. Ever since then, the Bruins haven’t been able to win two straight elimination games in a row. This year, against the Maple Leafs, they have to rewrite that if they hope to move on.
In their first season after the Stanley Cup, the Bruins failed against the Washington Capitals at TD Garden in Game 7 again. In 2013, however, the Bruins won Game 7 in the first round after a memorable comeback versus the Maple Leafs. In 2014, in the second round, the Bruins lost Game 7 at TD Garden against the Montreal Canadiens. The Habs got their revenge for 2011.
After that, the Bruins missed the playoffs twice. In 2017, they made their return but lost in six games against the Ottawa Senators in the first round. Last year, they won against the Toronto Maple Leafs in the first round, again. On Tuesday, they meet the Toronto Maple Leafs for a Game 7 date at TD Garden once more.
Nevertheless, there will be some players playing in their first Game 7 of their career. Brandon Carlo, Joakim Nordstrom, and Karson Kuhlman will suit up for their first-ever Game 7. However, John Moore has played in Game 7 three times in his career with the New York Rangers and has won them all. Marcus Johansson, the Bruins trade deadline acquisition, also won a Game 7 at TD Garden against the Bruins in 2012.
On Tuesday, the Bruins face yet another Game 7. What will be written to the history books now?
