Bruins resort to devious tactics to throw the Leafs off before Game 7

With their backs against the wall, the Boston Bruins have resorted to cheap, devious tactics, messing with the schedule to try to throw the Maple Leafs off ahead of Game 7.

After holding a 3-1 series lead over the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Boston Bruins have surrendered back-to-back losses in elimination games, first losing Game 5 at home in overtime and then losing Game 6 in Toronto, with both games finishing with a 2-1 score.

Now, with their backs officially against the wall and with the Leafs holding all of the momentum right now, the Bruins decided that they couldn't keep things on a level playing field tonight. Instead, they opted to try to mess with the Leafs' schedule in hopes of gaining an edge tonight.

Per TSN's Chris Johnston, the Bruins were originally scheduled to skate at their practice facility in Boston this morning, while the Leafs were scheduled to skate at TD Garden at 11am. Bruins coach Jim Montgomery instead opted to have the Bruins skate at TD Garden as well, claiming that the Bruins simply "wanted to change things up. This is one of the things we changed up."



However, the late change from the Bruins has now pushed back the Leafs' ice time on game day, cutting into their pre-game rest, as The Athletic's Jonas Siegel pointed out.


The Bruins can try to play all of the mind games that they want, but the Leafs have been the better team over these last two games. If the Leafs can maintain the same level of intensity and execute the game plan the same way that they did and impose their will on the Bruins for a 3rd straight game, they're going to be very difficult to put away, mind games or no mind games.