Bruins take 3-1 series lead, put Maple Leafs on brink

The Boston Bruins stifled the Toronto Maple Leafs 3-1 in Saturday's Game 4 to move one win away from the second round.

Maple Leafs superstar Auston Matthews didn't return after the second period. Head coach Sheldon Keefe said Matthews' absence was related to an illness and that "the doctors pulled him," per The Athletic's Joshua Kloke.

Toronto has lost six consecutive games on home ice in the playoffs dating back to last year and has been outscored 21-11 in that span.

April 20, 2023 - Game 2 of the first round against the Tampa Bay Lightning - is the Maple Leafs' last playoff win at Scotiabank Arena.

"Nothing wrong with our effort level here tonight," Keefe said, according to The Hockey News' David Alter. "Guys are competing. It's physical hockey. Guys are trying. It's a good team over there. It's limiting us.

"You can question a lot of things, can't question the effort."

Matthews, Mitch Marner, and William Nylander - who made his series debut - were visibly frustrated on the bench during the second period.

"We're not yelling at each other because we hate each other," Marner told reporters. "We just want to be all on the same page to help each other out."

Keefe reiterated that the interaction came from a good place.

"I don't sense any frustration," he said, according to Alter. "Guys are pushing one another, guys are competitive, guys want to win. You know, it's all part of it."

Morgan Rielly said the Maple Leafs' approach hasn't been the issue.

"It's always come down to execution, work ethic," Rielly told reporters when asked if Toronto needs to change their game plan, according to Kloke.

James van Riemsdyk, Brad Marchand, and David Pastrnak found the back of the net for the Bruins. Marner scored Toronto's only goal.

Jeremy Swayman made 25 saves in the victory. He's a perfect 3-0 in his starts in the series. Ilya Samsonov allowed three goals on 17 shots and was replaced by Joseph Woll for the third frame. Woll made five stops in relief.

Game 5 is Tuesday in Boston.