Playoff Performer of the Night | Frederik Andersen
Frederik Andersen thrived when the stakes were highest for the Toronto Maple Leafs, who staved off elimination to skate away with a 3-1 win backed by the Dane's 32-save performance.
Frederik Andersen thrived when the stakes were highest for the Toronto Maple Leafs, who staved off elimination to skate away with a 3-1 win backed by the Dane's performance.
Among Andersen's 32 saves was a dazzling denial with his stick that stacked up to an equally impressive save made off of Boston Bruins forward David Pastrnak earlier in the series in Game 3.
Frederik Andersen makes the save just in the stick of time. pic.twitter.com/tRnvbvHho6
— Stadium (@WatchStadium) April 24, 2018
Frederik Andersen makes a tremendous stick save to preserve a two goal Leaf lead. pic.twitter.com/XVkOOK66G2
— Tim and Sid (@timandsid) April 17, 2018
"I think it's the same kind of pressure we've had these last two games facing elimination, and Game 7 should be the same," Andersen said to reporters postgame. "It's something we all dream of playing in, these big moments, and you also want to perform."
Andersen earned the game's first star –for the second game in a row – outlasting Boston's offence, which was firing on all cylinders out of the gates with 17 shots in the first period.
It was an uplifting victory for a city in mourning. Earlier in the day, Toronto was shocked by tragedy when a man driving a van in the Yonge Street and Finch Avenue area killed 10 people while leaving 15 more injured. The Maple Leafs held a moment of silence at Air Canada Centre before puck drop to honour the victims.
Puck drops on Game 7 at TD Garden Wednesday, where the Bruins will look to defend home ice and advance to Round 2 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.