Bruins vs. Leafs Recreation 5 lineup: Projected traces, pairings, goalies in the inspiration appeared on NBC Sports activities Boston
UPDATE (Tuesday, April 30 at 3: 25 p.m. ET): The Athletic’s Chris Johnston and Jonas Siegel reported Tuesday afternoon that Leafs center Auston Matthews is now not going to play in Recreation 5. The Leafs bear now not formally dominated him out, but it undoubtedly would now not stare staunch for the NHL’s main scheme scorer.
–Pause of Change–
The Toronto Maple Leafs want to beat the Boston Bruins in Recreation 5 of their first-spherical Stanley Cup playoff series Tuesday night at TD Garden or their season will seemingly be over.
The Bruins pushed the Leafs to the brink of elimination with a pair of victories in Toronto to capture a commanding 3-1 series lead.
Right here is a smartly-diagnosed subject for the Bruins. They were on this exact similar subject remaining season against the Florida Panthers. It did now not quit properly for the Bruins, as the Panthers obtained three consecutive games to alter into the 32nd group in NHL historic past to conquer a 3-1 deficit.
This time does undoubtedly feel a chunk of bit varied, although. The Bruins bear fully dominated on particular groups (6-of-13 on vitality play, 13-of-14 on penalty assassinate) and their goaltending has been elite. Boston’s easiest players, especially Brad Marchand (eight points in four games) bear outplayed Toronto’s celeb forwards by a wide margin. The Leafs’ stars were also considered arguing with every varied on the bench all around the third interval of Recreation 4.
Toronto has a protracted historic past of playoff screw ups with its fresh core, but if the Leafs scuttle out in Recreation 5, this explain meltdown will seemingly be essentially the most disappointing of all of them.
Bruins defenseman Derek Forbort and colorful wing Justin Brazeau every practiced Monday and are alternate options for Recreation 5. It be unclear, on the choice hand, if both one in all them will play. The Bruins, frankly, invent now not want to mark any lineup adjustments. 1st viscount montgomery of alamein made adjustments coming into Recreation 3 and these traces and pairings bear labored wonders. There is now not any motive to repair something that’s going so properly.
The goaltending dedication is again a storyline. The Bruins went aid to Jeremy Swayman as the starter in Recreation 4 after he obtained Recreation 3. It used to be the first time a B’s netminder made consecutive starts since the center of February. Swayman gave a stellar performance for the third time in as many starts this series, and he now ranks No. 1 amongst all goalies in the postseason with a .956 set up share.
Even as you happen to have faith in about how properly Swayman has played versus the Leafs this season — 6-0-0 fable with a .967 set up share, at the side of the playoffs — plus the additional day of leisure in between Video games 4 and 5, it makes essentially the most sense to give him a third straight initiate Tuesday. It is seemingly you’ll perchance perchance’t scuttle fallacious taking half on your easiest goalie with a chance to send your rival dwelling for the summer season.
Essentially the most appealing quiz label for the Leafs involves big name center Auston Matthews. He’s been battling an sickness since Recreation 3 and did now not play in the third interval of Recreation 4 attributable to the articulate of affairs. Matthews traveled with the group to Boston but his subject for Recreation 5 stays perilous. He scored a league-main 69 targets in the long-established season and is Toronto’s most dynamic player. It may perchance perchance be a wide setback for the Leafs if he would now not play Tuesday night.
Sheldon Keefe says the Leafs are nonetheless hoping that Auston Matthews can play in Recreation 5: “No dedication presently.”
— Jonas Siegel (@jonassiegel) April 30, 2024
It be also unknown which goalie will initiate for the Leafs. Ilya Samsonov began the first four games and has a .883 set up share and 3.32 GAA. The Leafs’ disorders don’t appear to be all his fault, but they’ve wanted a couple clutch saves and he hasn’t given them many to this level.
Joseph Woll modified Samsonov to initiate the third interval of Recreation 4, and it would now not be beautiful to understand him mark his first initiate of the series in Recreation 5. Woll had a staunch long-established season for the Leafs, but he is 0-2-1 with a .865 set up share and a 3.97 GAA in three profession matchups vs. Boston.
Listed below are the projected lineups for Recreation 5. We are going to get a plan to substitute this article when the Bruins’ starting goalie is legendary and when there is a definitive substitute on Matthews.
Boston Bruins (3-1)
Forwards
Jake DeBrusk–Pavel Zacha–David Pastrnak
Brad Machand–Charlie Coyle–Morgan Geekie
James van Riemsdyk–Trent Frederic–Danton Heinen
John Beecher–Jesper Boqvist–Pat Maroon
Defensemen
Mason Lohrei–Charlie McAvoy
Hampus Lindholm–Brandon Carlo
Matt-Grzelcyk–Parker Wotherspoon
Goalie
Jeremy Swayman
Toronto Maple Leafs (1-3)
Forwards
If Matthews plays…
Tyler Bertuzzi–Auston Matthews–Max Domi
Matthew Knies–John Tavares–Mitch Marner
William Nylander–Pontus Holmberg–Calle Jarnkrok
Chop Robertson–David Kampf–Ryan Reaves
If Matthews would now not play…
Tyler Bertuzzi–Max Domi–Mitch Marner
Matthew Knies–John Tavares–William Nylander
Chop Robertson–Pontus Holmberg–Calle Jarnkrok
Connor Dewar–David Kampf–Ryan Reaves
Defensemen
Morgan Rielly-Ilya Lyubushkin
Simon Benoit–Jake McCabe
Joel Edmundson–Timothy Liljegren
Goalie
Joseph Woll
