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BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - MAY 04: David Pastrnak #88 of the Boston Bruins celebrates with his teammates after scoring the game winning goal against the Toronto Maple Leafs during overtime to win Game Seven of the First Round of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs at TD Garden on May 04, 2024 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - MAY 04: David Pastrnak #88 of the Boston Bruins celebrates with his teammates after scoring the game winning goal against the Toronto Maple Leafs during overtime to win Game Seven of the First Round of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs at TD Garden on May 04, 2024 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)Maddie Meyer/Getty Images

Bruins' David Pastrnak Exhilarates NHL Fans with OT Goal as Maple Leafs Eliminated

Julia StumbaughMay 5, 2024

David Pastrnak is the Boston Bruins' Game 7 hero.

Pastrnak scored in overtime Saturday night to punch the Bruins' ticket to the second round with a 2-1 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs.

The Bruins win the first-round series, 4-3.

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Pastrnak had previously been held scoreless in Games 5 and 6 of the series.

His overtime series-winner came after Bruins head coach Jim Montgomery called him out prior to the game.

The Bruins have now successfully avoided becoming the first team in NHL, NBA or MLB history to blow a 3-1 series lead in consecutive playoffs.

That result was far from certain as Boston's offense struggled through the first two periods Saturday night.

The enthusiasm in the stands at T.D. Garden was momentarily dampened late in the game, when William Nylander put the Leafs on the board midway through the third period.

It only took one minute and 21 seconds for Boston defenseman Hampus Lindholm to get the crowd back on their feet.

After Lindholm's goal, Boston goaltender Jeremy Swayman stood tall to take the Leafs to overtime.

He stopped 27 of 28 shots in regulation, then blocked a potential own goal in the final second of the third period.

This is the second consecutive series in which the Bruins have played a Game 7 overtime.

When the puck dropped for the fourth period, Boston faced the possibility of repeating the results of the 2023 first round, in which the Bruins lost in Game 7 overtime to the Panthers in a very similar series:

Pastrnak chased away the ghosts of series past by being the first player to reach the puck after a Lindholm dump-in caromed off the boards and directly in front of the net.

Leafs fans were frustrated that Pastrnak was able to skate past Leafs players including Toronto star Mitch Marner on his way to chasing critical dump-in.

Toronto's loss continues eight straight years of regular-season success followed by playoff heartbreak.

The Leafs have won just one playoff series in those eight trips to the postseason.

The Bruins only have one day off to celebrate the first-round series win before preparing for their next opponent. Boston will seek redemption against the Panthers when their second-round matchup begins Monday night on the road.

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