Bruins vs. Leafs Game 1 Lineup: Projected Lines, Pairings, Goalies originally appeared in NBC Sports Boston
The Stanley Cup Playoffs are about tough, physical hockey and lots of emotion. And no first-round series embodies these attributes more than clash between Boston Bruins and Toronto Maple Leafs.
Bruins-Leafs is indisputably the most intense rivalry in the NHL in 2024. If this series has the intensity we saw in the last regular season meeting in Boston on March 7 – when these teams racked up a combined 50 penalty minutes, including two fights and plenty of post-whistle scrums – then we’re in store for an incredible two weeks for the front.
The Leafs have been a promising team for several years now thanks to a roster full of young stars, especially up front. Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, William Nylander and John Tavares represent the core of the franchise. The Leafs invested a lot of money in this group, but produced just one playoff series win (last season vs. Lightning). These guys are not young anymore. Experience is not a problem.
After another excellent regular season, headlined by Matthews leading the league with 69 goals, the Leafs’ core is under immense pressure to finally make a deep run in the playoffs.
The Bruins have vastly exceeded expectations this season. They were in the Presidents’ Trophy mix almost the entire campaign before finishing second to the Panthers in the Atlantic Division. The highlight for the Bruins is in net. Everyone is waiting to see which goalie will start Game 1 on Saturday night.
Linus Ullmark has been one of the best goalies in the league since the trade deadline. He ranked second in save percentage (.935) and GAA (1.90) during that span. He is the Bruins goaltender who most deserves to start the series opener based on performance. But it would be hard to blame Bruins coach Jim Montgomery if he went with Jeremy Swayman in Game 1 because of his recent success against the Leafs. Swayman has beaten Toronto three times in three games this season. He stopped 93 of the 97 shots he faced.
Montgomery was asked after Saturday’s morning skate about his starter in Game 1. He declined to answer. We may not find out until about 40 minutes before the puck drop on Saturday, when pregame warmups begin.
Bruins goaltender tonight will be “one of the guys wearing pads,” Montgomery said
– Steve Conroy (@conroyherald) April 20, 2024
The only real uncertainty for the Leafs lineup is the status of Nylander, who was not on the ice for Toronto’s optional morning skate. Nylander had 40 goals and 58 assists for the Leafs in the regular season.
William Nylander’s availability tonight remains uncertain. It is believed he felt something the day after the last game. Probably a “tweak,” but not something he was playing around with. It remains questionable for Game 1.
-Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) April 20, 2024
Here are the projected lines and pairings for Game 1 of the playoffs. The album drop is scheduled for 8pm ET at TD Garden.
Boston Bruins (0-0)
Forwards
Danton Heinen – Pavel Zacha – David Pastrnak
Brad Marchand, Charlie McAvoy, Jake DeBrusk
Jakub Lauko – Morgan Geekie – Trent Frederic
John Beecher – Jesper Boqvist – Pat Maroon
Hampus Lindholm – Charlie McAvoy
Matt Grzelcyk – Brandon Carlo
Kevin Shattenkirk – Andrew Peeke
Linus Ullmark
Jeremy Swayman
Toronto Maple Leafs (0-0)
Forwards
Tyler Bertuzzi – Auston Matthews – Max Domi
Calle Jarnkrok – John Tavares – Mitch Marner
Bobby McMann – Pontus Holmberg – William Nylander
Matthew Knies-David Kampf-Connor Dewar
Defenders
Morgan Rielly-Ilya Lyubushkin
Simon Benoit – Jake McCabe
Joel Edmundson – Timothy Liljegren
Goalkeepers
Ilia Samsonov
José Woll
