David Pastrnak. Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports

David Pastrnak's OT goal lifts Bruins in Game 7 vs. Maple Leafs

By Paul Harris | Last updated 5/4/24

His goal 1:54 into overtime on Saturday night at TD Garden gave the Boston Bruins a 2-1 win in Game 7 of their Eastern Conference first-round playoff series against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

The Bruins advance to play the Florida Panthers in the second round. That series begins on Monday night in Sunrise, Fla.

Boston head coach Jim Montgomery said before the game that the team needed more from Pastrnak, who scored 47 goals during the regular season. Pastrnak responded by grabbing a carom off the back boards and backhanding a shot past Maple Leafs goalie Ilya Samsonov.

Defenseman Hampus Lindholm shot the puck into the Toronto zone to create the carom that Pastrnak turned into the winner. It was also Lindholm who tied the game 1-1 for the Bruins with 9:38 left, and just 1:21 after William Nylander gave Toronto a 1-0 lead.

Jeremy Swayman made 30 saves for Boston.

The Bruins avoided becoming the first team in NHL, NBA and MLB history to blow 3-1 series leads in consecutive seasons.

The Maple Leafs, however, reached a new level of infamy. They have now lost seven consecutive winner-take-all games — a streak that dates back to 2004.

Auston Matthews returned for Toronto after missing Game 5 and Game 6 due to an illness and an undisclosed injury. Matthews led the NHL with 69 goals during the regular season and assisted on Nylander's goal.

Samsonov, who stopped 29 shots, was forced into returning to the Maple Leafs crease because of an injury suffered by Joseph Woll late in Game 6. Woll was spectacular in Games 5 and 6, allowing a goal in each game as the Maple Leafs pulled even in the series.

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