Leafs vs Bruins 2024 Playoff Series Preview & Nylander Squashes Injury Rumour Ahead of Game 1
Plus, Leafs strategy for beating the Bruins in the 2024 Playoffs, the latest news & rumours and more
Welcome to the THW Toronto Maple Leafs Substack newsletter, with all the latest from our team of Maple Leafs writers.
Buds Breakdown Weekly: Matthews Fails to Close the Season With 70 Goals
April 20, 2024 by Anthony Testaguzza (Premium content)
In this week’s edition, the Toronto Maple Leafs finish their final two regular-season games against the Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning and Game 1 of the first-round playoff series against the Boston Bruins.
Also, Auston Matthews finished with 69 goals, penalties were the issue behind the result of their last two games, and a look at their performance in Game 1 of the first round.
Maple Leafs News & Rumors: Marner, Matthews, McMann & Domi
April 20, 2024 by The Old Prof
As the NHL playoffs gear up, the Toronto Maple Leafsare set to face the Boston Bruins in a highly anticipated Eastern Conference first-round series, starting tonight in Boston. This matchup marks the beginning of yet another “second season.” Whatever happened in past performances and regular-season statistics has fallen by the wayside. Tonight, fans will see a different hockey brand, favoring the gritty and the deeply determined. The fact is that anything can and likely will happen.
Nylander Squashes Injury Rumor Ahead of Uncertain Game 1 Status
April 20, 2024 by Jim Parsons
William Nylander may not be available for Game 1 as the Toronto Maple Leafs take on the Boston Bruins on Saturday, but it’s not because he was playing on an injury in the final game of the regular season. Talk of Nylander’s availability became a story on Friday when it was learned the forward wasn’t at practice. Head coach Sheldon Keefe called Nylander a possibility for Game 1 but also noted that he was under strict instructions from general manager Brad Treliving not to reveal the injury status of his players. Without much to go on, stories started to surface that perhaps Nylander played the final game of the season on an injury.
Sportsnet Insiders Break Down the Maple Leafs & Bruins Series
April 20, 2024 by The Old Prof
As the NHL playoffs gear up, the Toronto Maple Leafs are set to face the Boston Bruins in a highly anticipated Eastern Conference first-round series, starting this Saturday in Boston. This game marks the beginning of the new “second season,” where past performances and regular-season statistics fall to the wayside in favor of playoff hockey’s gritty, unpredictable nature.
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T.J. Brodie Doesn’t Make Cut for Maple Leafs First Playoff Game
April 19, 2024 by Jim Parsons
According to Luke Fox of Sportsnet and Jonas Siegel of The Athletic, it appears T.J. Brodie is the odd man out on defense as the Toronto Maple Leafs get set for a playoff series against the Boston Bruins. Playing a team they have a lousy playoff record against, the Leafs need a strong start to the 2023-24 series and speculation is that a blue-line corps that doesn’t include Brodie gives Toronto the best odds.
Matthews’ 70-Goal Attempt Is Familiar Story for Maple Leafs Fans
April 19, 2024 by The Old Prof
In the last game of the season against the Tampa Bay Lightning, Auston Matthews tried hard but failed to bring home goal number 70 over the regular season. He ended with 69 goals, which was excellent—really. Yet, the 70-goal mark would have been sweeter—so much sweeter.
Maple Leafs vs. Bruins 2024 Playoff Series Preview
April 19, 2024 by Spencer Lazary
The Toronto Maple Leafs’ first-round series is set. They will take on one of their arch-rivals, the Boston Bruins, for the third time in the Auston Matthews era (2016-17). The rivalry between these two teams has been excellent for the past few decades, but this is also the dragon that needs to be slayed by the Maple Leafs core. In the past two playoff series, the Bruins have gotten the better of their counterpart, and it marked the start of the team’s continual first-round exits. However, this year is a bit different for Toronto. Yes, the core still has the scars of those first-round exits, but the majority of the team doesn’t. Many names on the roster didn’t experience that, which should help keep those who did go through the hard times grounded.
Maple Leafs’ Strategy for Beating the Bruins in 2024 Playoffs
April 19, 2024 by The Old Prof
In a recent episode of the Jeff Marek Show, NHL analyst Shayna Goldman dissected the key factors that could help the Toronto Maple Leafs overcome their longstanding playoff struggles against the Boston Bruins—a rivalry heavily skewed in favour of the Bruins since 1959.
Auston Matthews Wins His Third Rocket Richard Trophy
April 19, 2024 by Spencer Lazary
Now that the season has come and gone, some of the season awards have been settled. These awards are typically based on season stats like most goals, most points, etc. The Rocket Richard Trophy is given to the player who leads the NHL in goals, and that is none other than Toronto Maple Leafs star Auston Matthews.