Toronto Maple Leafs forward William Nylander (88) celebrates his goal with defenseman Timothy Liljegren (37) in the second period in Game 6 of the first round of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena. Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports

Maple Leafs force Game 7 with 2-1 win over Bruins

By Paul Harris | Last updated 5/2/24

The pressure will be equal for each team in Saturday night's Game 7.

The Toronto Maple Leafs forced that deciding contest with a 2-1 win over the Boston Bruins on Thursday night at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto to tie the Eastern Conference first-round series at 3-3.

The deciding game will be at Boston's TD Garden at 8 p.m.

The Maple Leafs will be trying to avoid being eliminated in the first round for the sixth time in the last eight seasons while the Bruins will try not to blow a 3-1 first-round series lead for the second consecutive season.

William Nylander, who missed the first three games of the series with a mysterious injury, scored both goals for Toronto and goalie Joseph Woll made 25 saves. He was robbed of his first career shutout by Morgan Geekie's goal with one second left in the game.

Nylander's breakaway tally stretched the Maple Leafs lead to 2-0 with 2:13 left.

Toronto was without Auston Matthews for the second consecutive game due to an illness and suspected injury.

Nylander gave the Maple Leafs a 1-0 lead with 55 seconds left in the second period with a shot from along the right wing boards on which Bruins' goalie Jeremy Swayman was screened by his defenseman Charlie McAvoy. It was Nylander's first goal in 14 games dating back to the regular season.

Toronto dominated the first period and the early going in the second.

The Maple Leafs outshot the Bruins 12-1 in the opening period. Boston did not get its first shot of the second period and second of the game until more than seven-and-a-half minutes into the middle period.

It was the Bruins' fewest shots in the first period of a playoff game since shots on goal became an official stat in 1959-60.

Thursday was the 57th anniversary of Toronto winning its most recent Stanley Cup in 1967. They defeated the Montreal Canadiens 3-1 to win the series in six games.

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