Toronto Maple Leafs: Round One, Game Four Headlines

The Toronto Maple Leafs have the opportunity to take a stranglehold over their first-round series tonight as they prepare for Game Four at home.

Sitting with a 2-1 series lead at the moment, the Maple Leafs can now push the Bruins to the brink of elimination with another strong performance on home ice. It’s a position this team has found themselves in before, albeit in completely different circumstances. Back in 2016-17, the Maple Leafs managed to grab a similar 2-1 series lead over the then-President’s-Trophy-winning Washington Capitals thanks to a Tyler Bozak redirect in the first two minutes of overtime, before ultimately bowing out in six games.

Much has changed for this team since then. From personnel additions to an increased sense of maturity, this current version of the Maple Leafs stands far better positioned to finally achieve what their prior counterparts could not.

Before the puck drops, however, let’s comb through some pre-game headlines.

Johansson & Moore In

As the Maple Leafs continue to mourn the loss of Nazem Kadri, the Bruins prepare to welcome in two key contributors of their own.

Both John Moore and Marcus Johansson will make their returns to Boston’s lineup tonight ahead of the pivotal Game Four, offering a reeling Bruins squad with the injection of depth they sorely need. In the case of Moore, his addition may prove far less significant than Johnasson’s. In 61 games this season, Moore managed a grand total of only 13 points, while his advanced numbers proceeded to stumble, as well. Sitting at a 45.8% CF%/60 at 5v5, per HockeyReference, Moore’s ability to drive possession in comparison to his teammates took an even more noticeable turn for the worse, finishing at an awful -10.2 CF% rel.

Now tasked with containing Toronto’s blistering speed, Moore may be in for a rude awakening in his first game back in action.

Johansson, on the other hand, offers much more to handle. Acquired by the Bruins at this year’s trade deadline, the talented winger struggled in his initial stint in Boston, earning just 3 points throughout his first 10 games in black and gold, but carries the pedigree of someone far more dangerous. Johansson is a reliable offensive winger nonetheless, and in a series as tight as this one, any conceivable edge can prove to be the difference.

Backes Out

As a result, David Backes now slides out Boston’s lineup for tonight in order to make room.

It’s an interesting decision by Bruce Cassidy. In spite of his role as an “enforcer, Backes, surprisingly enough, actually led the entire Bruins team in shots throughout Game Three, which likely symbolizes the team’s overall lack of success rather than the merits of Backes himself.

His removal tonight leaves one less physical threat for Mike Babcock to plan against.

Puck drops at 7:00 PM

All stats courtesy of HockeyReference.com