It’s Déjà Vu for the Toronto Maple Leafs and Boston Bruins After Game-One

It may be only one game into the highly anticipated first round series between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Boston Bruins in the Stanley Cup. But boy, does it seem like déjà vu all over again for the Leafs.

The Toronto Maple Leafs lost the first game by a commanding score of 5-1 to the Bruins. Not quite the start the Leafs wanted, but probably what most would have predicted.

By the numbers on paper, the two teams appeared quite evenly matched. However, it didn’t feel at all that the Leafs had a chance at any point during Game One.

Just like in previous playoff meetings between the two clubs, the Bruins were aggressive and kept the game rough. Nevertheless, the Leafs somehow kept pace as both sides laid out 50 bone-jiggling hits apiece. But that was as close as the Leafs would get in terms of matching up to the Bruins.

It’s Déjà Vu for the Toronto Maple Leafs and Boston Bruins

So much for the keys to playoff success for the Maple Leafs, as the Bruins owned the ice in all other aspects of the game, just like they usually did in the past. Special teams was once again a disaster for the Leafs, as they failed to score on any of their chances with the man advantage, while getting schooled by Bruins on the penalty kill, yielding two goals on just five chances.

The Leafs star players were all shut down despite getting some solid chances on net.

Their only goal came from the hard work of their fourth line to help prevent them from getting shutout. Bruins goalie Jeremy Swayman almost single-handedly won the game for Boston, making big save after big save after big save, whereas Leafs goalie Ilya Samsonov continued his struggles against the Bruins with still only one career win against them.

And on this night, Bruins coach Jim Montgomery sure had the upper hand as Leafs counterpart Sheldon Keefe had no answer to Boston’s masterpiece both on offense and defense. (All stats from NHL.com)

All deflated and dejected, are the Leafs finished? Well, not so fast, as if history repeats itself, despite being outmatched and outplayed, they always find a way to take any playoff series against the Bruins to seven games.

Just hopefully this time, the Maple Leafs can finally come out on top and end a horrendous playoff series winless streak against Boston dating back to 1959. More importantly, time to end this déjà vu feeling once and for all.