Bruins Slammed by NHL Fans for Failing to Close Out Series vs. Maple Leafs in G6 Loss

For the second straight season, the Boston Bruins have blown a 3-1 first-round series lead.

The Bruins missed their second straight chance to eliminate the Toronto Maple Leafs as they lost 2-1 in Thursday night's Game 6.

Both teams will now have the chance to advance to the second round with a win Saturday in Boston.

This marks the fourth straight time a series between the Bruins and Leafs has gone to seven games.

The Maple Leafs have scored two or fewer goals in 11 of their last 12 playoff games.

That was enough to defeat Boston on Thursday.

The Bruins couldn't answer William Nylander's two goals until the final second of the loss, when Morgan Geekie beat Toronto goaltender Joseph Woll.

The low-scoring performance was particularly frustrating for the Bruins given that the Leafs were missing Rocket Richard winner Auston Matthews.

The Bruins' inability to close out the series, even given two straight opportunities to do so, gave fans flashbacks to last season.

Boston opened the 2023 playoffs by seizing a 3-1 series lead against Matthew Tkachuk and the Florida Panthers.

The Bruins then dropped Games 5 and 6 before their season ended in overtime during Game 7 at TD Garden.

The Bruins won't be the only team under pressure to win in Game 7.

The Leafs, who have famously suffered six first-round losses in the past seven seasons, will be under similar scrutiny this weekend.

The puck is set to drop for Game 7 at 8 p.m. in TD Garden.