Goalie report: A look at the work of Joseph Woll, Jeremy Swayman in Maple Leafs' Game 6 win
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Following each game in the first round between the Maple Leafs and Bruins, we’ll be providing a quick synopsis of the clubs’ goaltending performances.
A look at how each netminder fared in the Leafs’ 2-1 win at Scotiabank Arena in Game 6 on Thursday:
Joseph Woll, Maple Leafs
22/23 saves, .957 save percentage
As the Bruins went about the first period registering just one shot on goal, Woll was able to keep himself mentally sharp, realizing that the inactivity wasn’t going to last through the entire game.
The shots were 15-1 for Toronto well into the second period when Woll had to make a pad save on Bruins defenceman Mason Lohrei and the Bruins picked up steam. Woll finished with 12 saves in the period — a late glove save on Charlie McAvoy from the slot was big — and the work that was rewarded when William Nylander scored 55 seconds before the horn sounded to give the Leafs a 1-0 lead.
The Bruins had nine high-danger scoring chances in the second in data compiled by naturalstattrick.com and didn’t score on one. If that didn’t give the Leafs confidence going into the third, nothing would.
Woll made 10 saves in the final period before Morgan Geekie scored at 19:59 to end the shutout bid.
Woll didn’t flinch after the game when asked about losing the shutout that late, noting that only the win mattered. Can’t argue with that.
Jeremy Swayman, Bruins
24/26 saves, .923 save percentage
Swayman wasn’t bothered by some early mocking chants from members of Leafs Nation inside the building, providing perfect goaltending until the Leafs finally broke through at the end of the second.
And there was no fault on the part of Swayman when Nylander scored. If the shot didn’t glance off McAvoy on its way to the net, it would have been a routine save for the goaltender. As it went, there was no time to react when the puck suddenly changed course.
The move that Nylander made on his second goal — going to his backhand on a breakaway and slipping the puck between Swayman’s legs — was one that probably fools any NHL goaltender.
Still, there has to be a little spark of doubt for Swayman heading into Game 7. Two games in a row now, Woll has been one save better than his Bruins counterpart.
X: @koshtorontosun
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