Game night: Bruins at Leafs

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BOSTON BRUINS (50-25-5) at TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS (53-21-7)
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7p.m., Scotiabank Arena
TV: TSN4 Radio: TSN 1050
WHY WATCH?
Unless the Bruins can overtake Tampa Bay and play the Leafs in the first round this has no effect on the standings and will see two very watered-down lineups in a game that will be played under a caution flag by both coaches. Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner are being kept in the barn for this one, while David Pastrnak was looking to reach 40 goals.
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TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS
GP G A PTS +/-
Auston Matthews 73 60 46 106 +20
Mitch Marner 72 35 62 97 +23
William Nylander 80 32 46 78 -11
BOSTON BRUINS
Brad Marchand 69 32 46 78 +13
David Pastrnak 71 39 36 75 +13
Patrice Bergeron 72 22 39 71 +23
SPECIAL TEAMS
Power play
Toronto: 27.2% (1st)
Boston: 20.5% (17th)
Penalty kill
Toronto: 82.4% (7th)
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Boston: 81.3% (9th)
THREE THINGS ABOUT THE BRUINS
1. Linus Ullmark was in net for big wins over Florida and the Rangers the past few days and is 4-2 this month, which could see him get the start in playoffs ahead of rookie Jeremy Swayman. The latter is 4-4 in April.
2. If not the Leafs in the first round, Boston faces a wildcard date with Metro-leading Carolina. The Canes dominated all three meetings by a 16-1 total score. but are expected to be without No. 1 goalie Frederik Andersen.
3. At 63.2% in even strength faceoffs, Patrice Bergeron is the league leader and keeps Boston second as a team to the Leafs in that vital category in the conference. But what the B’s game night roster is on this back to back is not clear. And in case you think he’d mellowed, Brad Marchand was voted by NHLPA peers as the one you’d hate to play against the most but would love on your team.
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