In a Game 7 littered with stars who were begging for a breakthrough (David Pastrnak, Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner), a steady two-way defenseman ultimately tipped the scales.
Hampus Lindholm, who hasn’t looked like himself in 2023-24, rediscovered last year’s Norris-caliber play in Round 1 and produced his finest performance of the series at its most pivotal juncture. With the Bruins’ fate hanging in the balance, he was simply brilliant in all three zones on Saturday night.
Mobility has been a concern for much of the season, but the 30-year-old was flying in Game 7. Just ask William Nylander (TOR 88):
On a quick change of possession, Lindholm realizes that he doesn’t have the depth to gap up, so he turns and burns to acquire it. As his countryman aims to lean in for a close-range look, the defender works to dig his right shoulder inside Nylander’s frame, effectively crowding his shooting platform without committing an infraction. Tidy stuff.
The 6’4”, 224-pound blueliner’s wheels and range hampered Toronto’s attack throughout the contest.
With that said, he was even more impactful on the other side of the rink. A poor offensive season (26 points) didn’t stop Lindholm from rising to the occasion in Game 7, as he strove to impose his will on the Leafs through intelligent puck management and incisive point play.
Given Toronto’s recent shot-blocking proficiency, patience would be the key to either testing surprise starter Ilya Samsonov or giving his teammates a chance. He understood the assignment:
Lindholm accepts James Van Riemsdyk’s (BOS 21) pass at the left circle, and instead of firing the puck ASAP, he holds it until Morgan Rielly (TOR 44) overruns his angle. This here is the downside to a block-heavy approach. When shots do filter through—including innocuous wristers—tracking them becomes much more difficult.
He potted the 1-1 goal just 81 seconds after Toronto opened the scoring in the third period. Vintage Bruins opportunism.
That streak, as well as Lindholm’s assertiveness, continued early in overtime:
On a controlled breakout, Lindholm spots Pastrnak’s speed generation in the NZ and attempts a bank pass rather than settling for a dump-in. His shuffle before the red line enables him to thread the puck between Rielly and Nylander, and Pastrnak serves up the latest in a long line of Leafs Game 7 nightmares.
This was an anxious, tightly contested affair. As such, the return of Lindholm’s composure and offensive enterprise were enough to make the difference. A team-leading six shots, 72.7 xGF%, one goal and one primary assist in a 2-1 victory.
Here are the full highlights: