Boston’s efforts to contain Auston Matthews and a high-powered Toronto offense took a hit on Tuesday when defenseman Andrew Peeke was revealed to be “week-to-week” with an injury. This development, announced by Jim Montgomery after the team’s optional skate at Warrior Ice Arena, removes one of Boston’s sturdiest blueliners from the equation.
Peeke sustained the injury in Tuesday’s contest, exiting in the second period after a shot from Tyler Bertuzzi struck him in the hand. His absence was immediately felt, as John Tavares scored a goal on the power play in the second period while Kevin Shattenkirk was on the ice for a shorthanded shift.
Acquired by Boston from Columbus at the trade deadline, Peeke has been a valuable asset, logging 4:49 of shorthanded ice time against Toronto in this series while blocking two shots and landing two hits.
“It is a tough blow. He’s been really good for us,” Montgomery said of Peeke.
With Peeke unavailable, the Bruins will need to delve further into their depth chart on defense. Parker Wotherspoon, known for his steady and defensively responsible play, appears as Peeke’s logical replacement. Rookie Mason Lohrei was also recalled from Providence on Tuesday, potentially factoring into Boston’s reshuffled lineup for Game 3.
Montgomery could also slot in Wotherspoon for Peeke while starting Lohrei in place of another puck-mover like Shattenkirk or Matt Grzelcyk. Lohrei’s offensive abilities, including his shot-ready approach and crisp passing, could be valuable assets for the Bruins, who have struggled to create opportunities.
However, Lohrei’s experience and decision-making under duress have been areas of concern at the NHL level, something that could be exploited by Toronto’s aggressive forecheck.
“His poise with the puck, his ability to find middle ice, his ability to make plays in the offensive zone is something that we’re going to possibly look at for next game,” Montgomery said of Lohrei. “Also his willingness to go back for pucks is a strength.”
Another defensive option for the Bruins in this series is Derek Forbort, who will travel with the team to Toronto. Forbort is currently considered “day-to-day” after undergoing surgery following the trade deadline but will not play in Game 3.
Regardless of who starts in net for Boston on Wednesday, Jeremy Swayman or Linus Ullmark, the team faces a difficult task against Auston Matthews, who repeated his strong performance from Game 2. Toronto’s top-line center was a dominant force on the ice at TD Garden Monday, contributing two primary assists to Max Domi and Tavares’ goals. He gave Toronto its first lead against Boston all season with 7:54 remaining in the third period, slipping past Charlie McAvoy and scoring a breakaway tally against Ullmark.
“He finds ways,” Brad Marchand said of Matthews. “You look at his goal last night. I mean, that was a nothing play and you get a game-winning goal off of it. Even when you think that you’re tight on him, you’re not tight enough.”
Beyond his offensive contributions, Matthews led all Toronto skaters with 23:24 of ice time in Game 2. In addition to firing eight shots on goal against Ullmark, Matthews won 16 of 23 face-offs, doled out six hits, and corralled a loose puck under goalie Ilya Samsonov in the final minute of play, snuffing out Boston’s last-ditch effort for an equalizer.
Boston’s shutdown pairing of Brandon Carlo and Hampus Lindholm largely kept Matthews in check, but the Leafs’ star has developed into a player who can impact a game in numerous ways.
“What I’ve been impressed with him is how tenacious he’s been on pucks, how tenacious he’s been on the forecheck,” Montgomery said of Matthews. “He’s been relentless with his work ethic and he’s causing – first goal, he wins a battle, rings it off the crossbar, it ends up in our net.”
The Bruins and Maple Leafs have combined for a whopping 200 hits through the first two games of this series, a physical approach that has been characteristic of Toronto’s play against Boston in the playoffs.
“Every year we play them at playoff time, they show up, they compete hard, they battle, play physical,” Marchand said. “They definitely have a few more physical guys. They’ve got some grittiness up front and on the back end. They’re competing hard, but I wouldn’t say it was unexpected. They’re bringing what we thought they would. They’re playing for keeps.”
While Boston has delivered some big hits, they have not consistently applied pressure against Toronto’s blueliners, especially in the Leafs’ zone. Without a strong forecheck, the Bruins have struggled to extend offensive-zone time and create opportunities in front of Samsonov.
“We didn’t like our forechecking in Game 1 either,” Montgomery acknowledged. “I just think everybody’s got to do their job. F1 has got to do his job. F2’s got to run the right route, F3’s got to run the right route so that we can create loose pucks and then have the numbers there to create possession.”
