With a win over the Boston Bruins Monday night, the Toronto Maple Leafs chances of making the playoffs just jumped up a lot.
Like a lot. How much you ask? We’ll get there but, for now, let’s just talk about last night’s game for a little bit. The Toronto Maple Leafs faced off against their Original Six rival, the Bruins for the fourth time this season.
They won 4-2 in dramatic fashion after Tyler Bozak scored a late third-period power play goal, followed by two empty net goals by William Nylander and Nazem Kadri. With the win, the Leafs moved within one point of the Bruins for third place in the Atlantic Division and still have a game in hand.
Box Score
Here’s a look at the scoring summary from Monday’s game.
The game was touch and go between the two clubs for most of the night and it wasn’t until late in the third that the Leafs began to dominate play.
However, it wouldn’t be a classic Leafs v. Bruins tilt if one team had just run away with it.
Yes, I’m still bitter.
Statistics from Monday’s Game
BarDown is an excellent source for random and fun facts on anything regarding the NHL and they didn’t disappoint with their latest statistics about the most recent Leafs v. Bruins game.
Time to check them out.
Stat #1: Leafs swept the Bruins series for the first time since being renamed the Toronto Maple Leafs. They did sweep the Bruins once before but, that was when they were named the Toronto St. Patricks and it was in the 1924-25 season.
That being said, we’re counting this as their first four-game season sweep against the club.
Per @EliasSports: @MapleLeafs swept a season series vs. BOS (min. 4 GP) for the second time in franchise history (also 1924-25: 6-0-0). pic.twitter.com/vyTkkwAMgC
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) March 21, 2017
Stat #2: Let’s go back in time to when the Bruins came back from a three-goal deficit, 1-4, and beat the Leafs in the 2013 Playoffs, Game 7. I know, it hurts. Flash forward to the end of their regular season series this year and the Leafs had a 4-1 lead over the Bruins in every single game they played.
Flash forward to the end of their regular season series this year and the Leafs had a 4-1 lead over the Bruins in every single game they played.
How’s that for irony?
Stat #3: Interesting fact for you. Frederik Andersen is undefeated when playing the Bruins. After Monday night’s victory, he is now 8-0 against his Division rival. Four with the Anaheim Ducks and four with the Leafs.
His overall save percentage against the Bruins in .944 and his goals against average is 1.87.
Playoff Percentage Spike
After Monday night’s win, the Leafs increased their chances of making the playoffs by a lot. How much? Well, their chances of making the playoffs went up by 10% to a total of 73.5%. That means that the Bruins percentage went down 6.1% to an overall of 84.4%.
There’s still hope, even more so with this win.