In Tampa Bay, there won’t be much else to compete for since the playoff series between Toronto and Boston is already decided.

Auston Matthews attracts attention as he seeks his 70th goal of the season against Florida Panthers goalie Anthony Stolarz. Matthews will resume his pursuit on Wednesday against Tampa Bay.

In Sunrise, Florida, the Maple Leafs’ regular season will conclude with a game on Wednesday in Tampa, Florida, potentially setting the stage for a crucial moment for Auston Matthews.

Despite a 5-2 loss to the Florida Panthers on Tuesday night, Matthews was unable to score a goal as the game finalized the remaining details.

The Panthers surpassed the Boston Bruins to claim the top spot in the Atlantic Division, earning the opportunity to face the Tampa Bay Lightning in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. Consequently, the Leafs will face their long-standing playoff rival, Boston, a team that has been a significant adversary for them over the past five decades.

In Game 81, Matthews came close to adding to his goal tally but couldn’t quite find the back of the net, despite putting up an impressive effort with five shots on goal. Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe praised Matthews’ performance, acknowledging his numerous scoring opportunities throughout the game.

Trailing 4-2, Keefe opted to pull goalie Joseph Woll, only to witness Sam Bennett score his second goal of the game with three minutes and 20 seconds remaining. With the Leafs down 5-2 and on a power play, Keefe again pulled Woll, seemingly in a strategic move to support Matthews in his quest to reach the milestone of 70 goals. Keefe’s decision to keep Matthews on the ice despite the scoreline was unusual, as he typically rests key players in such situations.

It’s not so much about Auston, but rather the opportunity to practice our six-on-five and six-on-four strategies against a strong team,” explained Keefe. “Utilizing these situations against tough opponents like them is crucial for our development and growth.

Maple Leafs facing Bruins once more.

Mitch Marner and Noah Gregor found the net for Toronto. William Nylander contributed an assist, bringing him within two points of reaching his first 100-point season. Goalie Joseph Woll, who faced heavy pressure, made 37 saves out of 41 shots.

History between the Maple Leafs and the Bruins.

The Maple Leafs and Bruins have faced off in the playoffs 16 times, with each team winning eight series. However, the Leafs have not emerged victorious in a series against the Bruins since the 1959 Stanley Cup semifinals.

Since then, the Bruins have secured victory in the last six consecutive series, with the last three ending in heartbreaking fashion. During the Phil Kessel era, the Leafs lost a pivotal Game 7 in overtime in 2013 after holding a 4-1 lead. In the Matthews/Marner era, the Leafs suffered Game 7 defeats in 2018 and 2019.

In 2018, the Leafs staged a comeback from a 3-1 series deficit but ultimately lost Game 7 after relinquishing a 4-3 lead halfway through the game, allowing Boston to score four goals in the third period and secure the win at TD Garden. The following year, despite holding a 3-2 series lead, the Leafs were unable to close out the Bruins. Boston clinched the series with a 4-2 win in Toronto and sealed their advancement with a 5-1 victory on home ice.

One to go.

The Maple Leafs aim for an improved team effort in the upcoming game on Wednesday, even though Keefe didn’t express significant dissatisfaction with Tuesday’s performance.

Keefe reflected, “It’s a strange game. We had a strong first period, and the game seems much worse in hindsight from that point onwards. We limited the opponent’s scoring chances considerably in this game, much fewer than we have in recent games, despite the shot count. However, conceding too many goals without capitalizing on our own opportunities remains a crucial issue.

Max Domi and Bobby McMann didn’t play due to injuries, while Conor Timmins, Mark Giordano, T.J. Brodie, and Martin Jones were healthy scratches. It’s expected that most, if not all, of the healthy scratches will participate in the final game in Tampa.

Keefe mentioned, “I believe the players are eager to finish these games and start the playoffs. The playoffs are on the horizon, and that’s definitely exciting. However, we need to finish the 82-game schedule first.