Bruins Show Footage of Sad Fans in Maple Leaf Square on Jumbotron After Game 7 Win

May 5, 2024 Jimm Sallivan

You would think the Boston Bruins’ dominance on the ice against the Toronto Maple Leafs would be enough.

After all, the Bruins’ 2–1 overtime victory Saturday evening in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup playoffs’ first round polished off their seventh straight postseason series win over the Maple Leafs. Toronto hasn’t beaten Boston in a playoff series since 1959—eight years before its most recent Stanley Cup title.

However, the Bruins took matters a step further after right wing David Pastrňák’s winner. As Boston celebrated its triumph on the ice, the operators of TD Garden’s Jumbotron gleefully showed footage of a defeated Maple Leaf Square.

The TD Garden video screen is showing Maple Leafs Square. pic.twitter.com/wFXan2erzD

— Conor Ryan (@ConorRyan_93) May 5, 2024

Maple Leaf Square, as the name implies, sits adjacent to Scotiabank Arena and is a popular rallying point for Toronto sports fans (basketball-savvy readers may know it as Jurassic Park).

Given the imbalance between Boston and Toronto’s sports success this century, it seems fair to ask: haven’t the latter’s citizens suffered enough?

7 May 24 Jimm Sallivan

Bruins’ Brandon Carlo Scores Huge Playoff Goal Just Hours After Wife Gives Birth

Boston Bruins defenseman Brandon Carlo and his wife Mayson welcomed their second child on Monday morning in Boston.

Carlo, who was present for the birth of his first son, named Crew, flew into Miami on Monday afternoon and arrived at the arena just hours before the Bruins were set to take on the Florida Panthers in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals.

Carlo was instrumental in Boston's 5-1 Game 1 victory, scoring the team's third goal of the night to add some insurance in the second period.

Boston Bruins defenseman Brandon Carlo arrived late to the arena after welcoming his newborn son earlier this morning.
Tonight, he scored a goal to help the Bruins win Game 1 vs. the Panthers 👏 pic.twitter.com/WisAkulgnL
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) May 7, 2024

Carlo admitted to the media after the game that there was no guarantee that he was going to make it to the arena in time to suit up and play on Monday night.

"Yeah, we sped it up as fast as we could," Carlo said. "We were flipping her around, putting her upside down - whatever we could do to get that baby out of there."

Not only did Carlo make it in time, but he made quite the impact as the Bruins took the first game in the series and stole home ice away from the Panthers. Boston goalie Jeremy Swayman, who has had quite the postseason himself so far, said that Carlo's goal will go down as one of the most memorable moments of the playoffs for Boston.

"I don't celebrate often but I raised my hands with that one," Swayman said. "It's so incredible what he did today. Just the attitude he brought, he was so excited. I couldn't imagine what that's like, leaving your little one and your wife at home right after. And Mayson is a big part of this team too because of that, and allowing him to come and be here and supporting him and it's probably one of the most memorable moments I'll have with this playoff run, no doubt about it."

Game 2 between the Bruins and Panthers is set for Wednesday night, and Carlo is sure to be a big part of it once again.

5 May 24 Jimm Sallivan

Maple Leafs Fall to Bruins in Overtime to Extend Infamous Game 7 Losing Streak

In 2019, SI's S.L. Price christened the Toronto Maple Leafs' plight "one of the world’s last great championship droughts."

That sentiment will hold true for another year.

The Maple Leafs lost 2–1 in overtime Saturday to the Boston Bruins in Game 7 of the two teams' first round series, ensuring that Toronto will remain Stanley Cup-less as it has every year since 1967.

More immediately, in extended the Maple Leafs' infamous streak of Game 7 losses to six—four of which have come to the Bruins in 2013, '18, '19 and now '24.

All four of those losses came in Boston.

Maple Leafs have lost 6 straight Game 7s, with 4 of them coming on the road against the Bruins. Their last Game 7 win was in 2004 vs Senators
— Josh Dubow (@JoshDubowAP) May 5, 2024

Boston right wing David Pastrňák netted the winner at 1:54 of the overtime to send the Bruins to the second round, where they will meet the Florida Panthers. The goal came after a wild sequence where Toronto nearly won the game late in regulation.

Clutch stop by Swayman in the dying seconds of regulation 🛑
Watch Game 7 OT between the Leafs and Bruins on Sportsnet or stream on Sportnet+. pic.twitter.com/pmcEIJTMgs
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) May 5, 2024

The Maple Leafs' last triumph in a Game 7 came against the Ottawa Senators in the conference quarterfinals on April 20, 2004.

5 May 24 Jimm Sallivan

David Pastrnak Had Commendable Response to Getting Called Out by Bruins Coach

Before he made the TD Garden crowd jump out of their seats on Saturday night, David Pastrnak's own seat was rather hot.

The 10-year NHL veteran—and two-time All-Star—was called out by Boston Bruins coach Jim Montgomery following his second straight scoreless effort in Game 6, also Boston's second straight loss in the series.

"Your best players need to be your best players this time of year," Montgomery said. "I think the effort is tremendous and they need to come through with some big-time plays in big-time moments. I think Marchand has done that in the series. Pasta needs to step up."

Step up, Pastrnak did, as he was there when the Bruins, who defeated the Maple Leafs 2—1 to advance to the second round, needed him most.

Locked in a tight battle with the Maple Leafs that saw the teams go two full periods without a goal scored, Pastrnak, with 1:54 remaining in overtime, skated past the Maple Leafs defense and showed off some nifty stick work, scoring on a backhand shot after an assist from Hampus Lindholm to win the game—and the series—for Boston.

Speaking to reporters after the game, Pastrnak had a commendable response when asked about being called out by Montgomery.

Pasta has no hard feelings after Monty said he needed to "step up" pic.twitter.com/zcIzgzfo7t
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) May 5, 2024

"Jimmy, you know, he said the stuff he did after Game 6," Pastrnak said. "And I told him, 'If I'm the coach and you were me, I would say the same things,' so I had no problem with him saying that."

"He's trying to bring the best out of every single player and he expects more. I just took it as a man and tried to be better. I admitted I need to be better and I still have ways to be better."

Pastrnak, 27, scored three goals in the series. The Bruins will next take on the Florida Panthers on Monday night at 8 p.m. ET.

US Sports News

Bruins Show Footage of Sad Fans in Maple Leaf Square on Jumbotron After Game 7 Win

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Jimm Sallivan