Throughout the first four games of this best of seven series, the Boston Bruins power play has overwhelmed the Toronto Maple Leafs penalty kill en route to a 3-1 series lead in this best of seven series. Initially in a slump entering the playoffs, the B's man-advantage is 7/14 thus far. Some of the success is attributed to coach Jim Montgomery making some changes to the units.
Before the series, he switched Kevin Shattenkirk for Charlie McAvoy at the top and slotted Danton Heinen in Brad Marchand's spot on the half wall in the first unit. Yet it takes two to tango when it's one-sided, and part of that is Toronto being dragged out of their penalty kill structure.
Former Toronto Marlies video coach Jack Han, who also previously worked with Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe broke down how the Bruins exploited the Leafs on the power play to double their Game 4 lead en route to the convincing 3-1 win.
The first issue is how the Leafs kill penalties. Most coaches have a hybrid between Diamond (1-2-1) and umbrella (1-3). Yet Keefe loves to stay in an aggressive diamond structure.
As Han notes, the issue with the diamond PK is that it doesn't prioritize coverage in the high slot area, only towards the blueline.
In the first frame, Pontus Holmberg leaned toward a pass back to the right flank but instead the Bruins sent it to the middle of the structure.
It led to another breakdown in the Leafs diamond penalty kill, which doesn't defend well against quick puck movement. As a result, Boston manifested a two on one near the net, where Jake McCabe was left in a dire position.
The true breakdown unfolded in the next frame where Mitch Marner went too hard down low into the Leafs zone which he isn't supposed to do as a forward. I've personally made this mental mistake before as a hockey player but there's a difference when an $11 million 26 year-old superstar makes the gaffe in the most crucial kill of the season having practiced the diamond plenty of times throughout his career.
From there, the Bruins whip the puck to the opposite side of the ice, and a wide open captain Brad Marchand takes advantage of the over collapsed defense and finishes things with the clapper.
The goal was Marchand's 56th of his postseason career, giving the present legend the franchise lead.
Marchand had torched the Leafs in this series whether it's scoring the final two goals of game three or getting in Tyler Bertuzzi's head.
He has 3 goals and 8 points in the four games of this series. The Bruins have been better in every aspect of this series thus far, including behind the bench where Montgomery has coached circles around Keefe. Boston have showed their championship metal and aren't likely to take their foot off the gas after blowing a 3-1 series lead against the Florida Panthers, who they may face next, in round one last year.
It's no accident Toronto is on the brink of elimination and if they can't turn things around, you're likely to see significant changes this offseason which may include Keefe losing his job. Should the Leafs have any chance of producing any branches on their dying tree, it starts with the man who plants the seed in Keefe and continues with fruits like Marner, meeting the decisive moments of the Spring season.
Latest 10 stories
