William Nylander was the hero for the Toronto Maple Leafs in their crucial Game 6 against the Boston Bruins, helping his team secure a 2-1 victory and force a Game 7 in their Eastern Conference first-round playoff series.
Nylander ended his 13-game scoring drought with a goal late in the second period, breaking the game’s long scoreless deadlock. He then sealed the win for the Maple Leafs with another goal on a breakaway in the third period, doubling Toronto’s lead. Morgan Rielly provided the assists on both of Nylander’s goals.
Joseph Woll, making his second consecutive start for the Maple Leafs, was solid in net, stopping 22 of the 23 shots he faced. He came tantalizingly close to a shutout, with Boston’s only goal coming just before the final buzzer. Woll’s performance included a remarkable 12 saves in the second period alone.
Despite a late surge from the Bruins, who scored with just seconds remaining in the game, Jeremy Swayman’s 24 saves were not enough to prevent the loss. The Bruins now find themselves facing a first-round Game 7 after surrendering a 3-1 series lead for the second consecutive season. Last year, they were eliminated by the Florida Panthers in the opening round of the postseason.