The Boston Bruins came back with a big 6-4 win in Game 4, despite a late and furious attempt at a comeback by Toronto. The main storylines in this one centered around Boston head coach Bruce Cassidy’s decision to split up his top line and that his best players finally broke through Toronto’s defence and Frederik Andersen.
In Calgary, the West’s top seed is on the brink after another overtime loss. Surprisingly, Mike Smith‘s effort in goal has made him the Flames’ best player to this point in the series which, while a great development, is not a recipe for success if their top liners are being outplayed by Colorado’s stars.
Following Wednesday night’s games, here’s what they were saying about Toronto and Calgary in the American markets.
BOSTON’S BEST PLAYERS FINALLY GET LEG UP ON TORONTO’S DEFENDERS, BUT IT’S NOT ALL ROSY
Talking Points from the Bruins’ 6-4 Game 4 win over the Maple Leafs — NBC Sports Boston
Heading into Game 4, Boston’s top line of Patrice Bergeron between Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak had come together on three goals, only one of which came at 5-on-5. For the most part, the Maple Leafs were winning the battle against the Perfection Line, but that started to turn in Game 4.
Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy split up the trio at the start of the game and picked his spots in reuniting them. Pastrnak scored twice and Marchand once and, Joe Haggerty writes, the scales were finally tipped in Boston’s favour.
The Bruins finally stung the defensive stoppers that had been so good in this series for the Maple Leafs. John Tavares and Jake Muzzin each finished minus-3 and weren’t able to hold back Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand as effectively when they were paired with Danton Heinen instead of David Pastrnak.
It extended to the face-off circle as well as Tavares was just 6-for-18 on the draw and didn’t seem to get the drop on Bergeron as he has in certain moments earlier in this series. Some of it might have been about the line shakeup that Cassidy introduced at the start of the game and some of it was about Boston’s best players finally outplaying the guys trying to stop them.
Bruce Cassidy pushes right buttons in Bruins win — Boston Herald
Although it was promising for Bruins fans to see Pastrnak get a couple goals and Marchand being a pain for the Maple Leafs on offence, it wasn’t as convincing of a win as Game 2. With the series all even, the result is still very much in the air, writes the Boston Herald’s Steve Conroy.
It was hardly perfect. The B’s gave up a whopping 42 shots. Tuukka Rask would have liked at least one of the four goals back. They blew a two-goal lead and nearly a three-goal advantage. The fourth line seems to have blown a tire here in Toronto. This series is still very much in question.
But on a night when they had to outscore one of the most explosive teams in the league, Cassidy and his charges found a way to get it done.
WITHOUT MIKE SMITH WHERE WOULD CALGARY BE?
Avalanche wins OT thriller against Flames, takes 3-1 series lead — Denver Post
With Calgary holding a 2-0 lead in the third period, it looked like this series would head back to the Saddledome all tied up at two. Colorado has outshot the Flames by an average of 9.5 each game this series and were again all over Calgary in Game 4, but Mike Smith had regained his Game 1 form, standing on his head in outstanding fashion for the Flames.
But, as Mike Chambers writes, despite Calgary getting the all-important first goal and adding another early in the third, it was Colorado’s goalie who won the battle by the time Mikko Rantanen scored in overtime.
Calgary deservingly got the game’s first goal by coming out of the first intermission with, well, fire. The Flames had the Avs on their heels and continually played in Colorado’s end before and after Elias Lindholm scored at 3:25. His shot from the right circle caromed off an Avalanche defender and bounced behind the goal line before diving defenseman Ian Cole could swat it away.
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The Avs picked it up later in the period — and dominated at the end. But Smith was strong, and his right post kicked back a Gabe Landeskog slap shot on one of Colorado’s glorious chances to get on the board. Colorado outshot the Flames 33-25 after two periods, but Smith was the MVP at that point.
In the end, he was outplayed by Grubauer (35 saves), who had seen his team win from 2-0 deficits multiple times over the last six weeks.
Colorado carrying the play, Mike Smith keeping Calgary in it — Mile High Hockey
On Wednesday, Andrew Berkshire highlighted how Colorado was beating Calgary at their own game by being the better team in transition and excelling at carrying the puck through all zones with control. And as Jackie Kay writes, that trend continued in Game 4.
The Flames continue to have no answer for Colorado’s speed, specifically Nathan MacKinnon, and now add Mikko Rantanen to that list after his two goal performance. The Avalanche continued their domination with another 52 shot effort and 59% Corsi for share of possession in this contest. Flames goaltender Mike Smith has kept Calgary in this series with his strong play.
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