

Toronto hoping to win series for first time since 2004 ; Boston must take advantage of home ice …
Unfortunately , we Leaf fans have been to this dance too often ! … Dougie and the boys obviously ate up a good chunk of luck in that one glorious playoff run in ‘ 93 … And even then , the well was dry on the third attempt …
Since the only three FULL games that I have watched all season ( one being the 4 – 2 loss on Sunday afternoon ) have all been losses … I’ve declared myself a curse and will do my usual and monitor the score at command central here.
Here’s what one sports pundit figures are main points in tonight’s deciding game …
5 Keys: Maple Leafs at Bruins, Game 7
1. Vanquish the ghosts
The Maple Leafs still haven’t proven they can advance to the second round or defeat the Bruins. It’s time for them to make the leap.
Even though the Maple Leafs will be playing in a building that has given them nightmares , they need to ignore the past and focus on the future , winning one game to elevate them to a place they haven’t been in more than a decade.
Because as everyone in Toronto would acknowledge : It’s time.
2. Replicate Game 6
The Bruins believed they played their best game of the series Sunday, even better than their 4-1 win in Game 2 in Boston. So the best way for the Bruins to defeat the Maple Leafs and move on is simple : Do exactly what they’ve already done.
Boston simplified its game , shot the puck and put pressure on Toronto. The Bruins did what they did best in the regular season , the same strategies that helped them finish second in the NHL standings with 107 points.
” We felt really good about our game ” Bruins defenseman Torey Krug said … ” I think it was one of the more complete efforts , closer to our DNA as a team in this series. It’s been something that we want to bottle up and use to our advantage going into next game. That’s what we’re trying to do.”
3. Take advantage of home ice
Though the Bruins were 29-9-3 at TD Garden in the regular season , they haven’t made home-ice advantage work for them in the playoffs , losing Game 1 and Game 5 in Boston. They’ll need to be better in front of the home crowd if they want to advance.
“We’ve played really well at home this year ” Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy said. ” If you get caught up in the matchups , maybe that’s something. When you’re on the road , you just put [ your players ] out there and then they have to react to it. So sometimes it’s almost easier , as far as a coach goes , coach on the road , pick your players and trust them to get the job done. That could have something to do with it.”
4. Special teams battle
The Bruins have taken advantage of power plays against a leaky Maple Leafs penalty kill , scoring seven goals on 16 chances ( 43.8 percent ). The question is whether Toronto can stay out of the box , or barring that , find a way to contain Boston’s power play.
5. Success at the dot
The Maple Leafs haven’t had a lot of success in the face-off circles during the playoffs. The Bruins have won 52.6 percent of face-offs in the series ( 184 of 350 ), giving them more possession and ability to control the puck.
Bruins center Patrice Bergeron won 17 of 23 face-offs in Game 6 ( 73.9 percent ) and has won 61.9 percent for the series ( 86 of 139 ).
A few more wins for the Maple Leafs, especially in the offensive zone, could go a long way.
Morb’s 5 keys for Leafs to advance
1 . STAY OUT OF THE PENALTY BOX !!! …
2. Morgan Reilly gets a hat trick … Auston Mathews repeats his four goal debut … Willy Nylander finally tosses off those cobwebs and tucks a couple in and John Tavaras , Patty Marleau and Kasperi Kapanen pop one in each for good measure …
3. STAY OUT OF THE BOX !!! …
4. Freddie Anderson comes to work , business as usual , and proceeds to top himself in the ‘ standing on one’s head ‘ department every time the Leafs fall apart with one too many passes in the offensive zone and give up a 3 on 1 the other way !!! …
5. Finally , just to play it safe … STAY OUTTA THE GODDAMN PENALTY BOX !!!! …
Oh , and did I mention not to get any stoopid penalties ? … Yeah that too …
We clear on this ?! …

Source: 5 Keys: Maple Leafs at Bruins, Game 7