After the first two games of the Stanley Cup Playoff first-round match-up between the Boston Bruins and the Toronto Maple Leafs, it appeared the series was already over. The Bruins manhandled Toronto at home to jump out to a 2 games to zero lead in the best of 7. Maple Leafs forward Nazem Kadri was suspended 3 games for a dirty hit in Game 1. Despite dropping Game 3, the Bruins bounced back in Game 4 with another decisive win. Then the wheels fell off.

Losing Games 5 and 6, the Bruins have looked like a shell of themselves, with poor goaltending, shaky defense and an offense that cannot catch a bounce.

The result is a tied series at three games apiece, and one deciding game to see who moves on to face Tampa Bay in the second round. The Bruins will enjoy home ice for the game, though the way they have played the last two games, it may not be enough to save them.

Been here before

This has to be deja vu for Toronto as they head back to Boston for the decisive Game 7. Back in 2013, the two teams met in the first round of the playoffs, culminating in an epic Game 7. Toronto was able to handle the pressures of being the road team and laid it on the Bruins all night. They found themselves up with a commanding 4-1 lead with only 10 minutes left in the game.

Suddenly, a bit of life was breathed into the team as a fluky goal made it 4-2.

Another goal by Milan Lucic with just over a minute remaining gave the team the slightest hope. The Bruins wouldn't quit and they continued to press until scoring yet again to send the game into overtime. Shortly into the first overtime frame, Patrice Bergeron ripped the hearts out of Toronto fans as he finished a loose puck to win the game and series.

It has since gone down as one of the greatest comebacks in NHL playoff history.

Does history repeat itself this year?

If the Bruins can play like they did at the beginning of the series, then they should wrap this up on home ice. However, Game 7 is always a crazy game as literally anything can happen. The referees tend to leave the whistles in their pockets and let the boys play.

While this offers advantages for both sides, it really just magnifies how every little move could mean the difference between winning and losing.

The Maple Leafs will need to continue their speed game as the Bruins have not been able to defend the long outlet passes. For the Bruins, getting that first line of Bergeron, Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak going will be key. Whoever can shut down the other team's scorers and push the onus onto the role players will have the edge.

My prediction: Bruins 3 - Maple Leafs 2
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