BOSTON — With the NHL playoffs starting on Saturday, publications all over began posting their NHL postseason picks including Boston vs. Toronto which gets underway Saturday at 8 p.m.
Perhaps with last year’s first-round implosion vs. Florida fresh in people’s minds, the Bruins are a popular to-be-upset pick.
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ESPN’s Ryan S. Clark and Kristen Shilton picked how each team would fare throughout:
Bruins: “Boston will get outworked (again) in the first round and won’t be able to match the intensity of a hungrier opponent. The Bruins will fall in six games and head into another long offseason to think about making major changes.”
Leafs: “Toronto will escape the first round and then explode with a second-round sweep. The Leafs will reach their first Stanley Cup Final since 1967 and finally win it all in a dramatic Game 7 victory.”
Before having several staffers make picks The Athletic summed up the Maple Leafs’ postseason history:
“Falling short and disappointing in literally every single postseason? That’s no longer bad luck. That’s no longer in the “sometimes you lose” category. That’s who you are. The Leafs haven’t exactly been racking up division titles or consistently finishing near the top of the league standings, either, and they have always found fresh new ways to lose. They have lost as underdogs, they have lost as favorites, they have lost Game 7s, they have blown series leads and they have been soundly beaten from start to finish. The end result is always the same. If it doesn’t change this season, it’s long past time to wonder if it ever will.”
Kevin Kurz: Bruins
Sean McIndoe: Bruins
Julian McKenzie: Bruins
Jesse Granger: Bruins
Shayna Goldman: Maple Leafs
Sean Gentille: Maple Leafs
“The Bruins’ Big, Bad reputation can only take them so far. Underneath it is a far less dangerous version than we’re used to seeing. They’re outgunned offensively against the Leafs, no longer hold their usual defensive edge and aren’t even necessarily the tougher team between the two anymore.
Boston’s superior goaltending could tilt the series in its favor, but the Leafs are equal or better almost everywhere else. They should thank their lucky stars that they avoided a Round 1 matchup against the Florida Panthers. They match up much better against the Bruins and are going to conquer a demon for a second consecutive season. Maple Leafs in six games.”
The Hockey News
The Hockey News is trying to be clever calling the Leafs “the Buds.”
“Toronto, in six games
Granted, this pick is an upset, but the Leafs shouldn’t be underestimated. They’ve got a deep, experienced group. While they’ll only go as far as their core four forwards take them, superstar center Auston Matthews has grown his game to new heights, and he very well could carry the Buds past the Bruins.
Boston has the edge in goaltending, but Samsonov and/or Woll can keep Toronto in games. With some puck luck, the Leafs could prove to be much more of a handful than Boston is expecting.
There’s not a lot of difference between the two teams, and that’s why we see the Leafs emerging as the victor.”
Chris Bengel and Austin Nivison eached picked results of each series.
Bengel: Perhaps I’ll regret this, but I’m siding with the Maple Leafs in this series. Toronto is absolutely loaded at the top, and Auston Matthews has been a proven playoff producer in each of the last two seasons. Yes, it’s noteworthy that the Bruins won all four matchups during the regular season, but the Bruins limped into the postseason and should be facing the Lightning rather than the Maple Leafs. One of the biggest storylines in this series could be the talent drop-off after David Pastrnak. Sure, Pastrnak tallied 110 points on the season, but they didn’t have anyone else that even touched the 70-point mark. If the Maple Leafs defense can do enough to limit Pastrnak’s opportunities, this could be a series that Toronto can steal. Pick — Maple Leafs beat Bruins 4-3
Austin: As Maple Leafs fans know all too well, this matchup has always gone the Bruins’ way in recent history. If Toronto is going to get over this hurdle, it has to find a way to consistently beat one of the best defensive teams and one of the best goaltending duos in the game today. Letting Auston Matthews shoot the puck early and often might be a good start in that regard. Matthews scored 69 goals in the regular season, and the Leafs’ star power doesn’t end there with William Nylander, Mitch Marner and John Tavares rounding out the “Core Four.” Of course, that core hasn’t done much against the Bruins, a team that keeps plugging along despite key offseason losses. Even after losing Patrice Bergeron, Boston was able to remain atop the NHL due to David Pastrnak being a stone cold killer, superb team defense, and rock-solid goaltending. All that said, the Bruins have looked more vulnerable than usual this year, with their five-on-five play sagging a bit. If the Maple Leafs can seize the opportunity, they’ll exorcise this New England demon in dramatic fashion. Pick — Maple Leafs beat Bruins 4-3
NHL.com had all of their experts pick all of the series. Here’s how each picked Boston vs. Toronto.
Amalie Benjamin, staff writer: Boston Bruins
Brian Compton, managing editor: Toronto Maple Leafs
Nicholas J. Cotsonika, columnist: Boston Bruins
William Douglas, staff writer: Toronto Maple Leafs
Tom Gulitti, staff writer: Toronto Maple Leafs
Pete Jensen, director, senior fantasy editor: Boston Bruins
Adam Kimelman, deputy managing editor: Toronto Maple Leafs
Mike G. Morreale, senior draft writer: Boston Bruins
Tracey Myers, staff writer: Boston Bruins
Bill Price, Editor-in-Chief: Toronto Maple Leafs
Shawn P. Roarke, senior director of editorial: Boston Bruins
Dan Rosen, senior writer: Toronto Maple Leafs
David Satriano, staff writer: Boston Bruins
Dave Stubbs, Columnist: Boston Bruins
Derek Van Diest, staff writer: Boston Bruins
