Will the Bruins overcome their playoff struggles against Toronto? Coach and players speak out

Bruins fans are starting to get a bad cold. Just like last year against Florida, when Boston was eliminated in seven games, the favored team took two wins from away games and a record of 3-1. However, he did not improve at home and the final performance raised concerns.

“I’m still confused. I do not understand and I do not accept our performance, so I will be encouraged until the next game. If you don’t learn a lesson in life, you can repeat some things,” said Bruins coach Jim Montgomery, who held a team meeting in the training hall before flying to Toronto. “There were a lot of things we needed to see and hear,” said running back Charles McAvoy.

Although Pastrňák had 4 shooting attempts on Joseph Woll’s goal the last time, he certainly didn’t look like the player who was most disturbing the Maple Leafs before the start of the series. “Players like Pastrnak will find a way if you let them. But if you look at the goals we got from him, one was after a free kick and the other was after a mistake in midfield. Otherwise, we were able to control it. We didn’t give him much,” praised Toronto coach Sheldon Keefe, who at the same time is missing the leading scorer of the regular season, Auston Matthews.

In five playoff games, Pastrňák has so far only managed three shots from the area in front of the goal, shooting twice from the center of the field. He shot mostly from left guard, but wasn’t very dangerous. The decrease in opportunities is also related to a significant change in style, which Boston ordered number 88 before the start of the playoffs.

“I really cut my losses. That’s what I focused on, which also means you’re not in as many dangerous events. When you take the risk out of your game, it makes sense. That’s why I don’t go on the attack so much. But I’m completely at peace with it,” said Pastrňák, who, however, is expected to make an offensive move. Which is logical for a player who collected the most points from the Bruins (110) in the season normal. But captain Brad Marchand (3 + 2) is more productive in the playoffs. Trent Frederic also scored more goals (3).

But “pasta” has reasons. In the regular season, he had the most “handover pucks” (98) of any NHL player. Only one was in the opening four games against Toronto.

“I focus on details, especially protecting and reducing risk, which I was good at. ” I don’t get into those many opportunities, but I still have enough. And with more games, there will be more,” Pastrňák thinks.

But the former Bruins player, their later coach and also the general manager of the New York Islanders, Mike Milbury, stopped over his actions: “Something is not right. He, who always likes hockey, suddenly looks unhappy. But I don’t know what’s to blame.’

However, Boston would like to end the fight with Toronto as soon as possible. So that the dark shadows of the past do not come again.

“Whether the Bruins win the series or not is irrelevant. When your best striker is playing at 65, 70 percent of his potential, you’re not going to get far. You can see on Paste that it’s out there for some reason,” Milbury said.