BOSTON — The Boston Bruins are still alive.

After giving away a 3-1 series lead in the first round for the second straight season, the Bruins responded with a 2-1 overtime win in Game 7 on Saturday. David Pastrnak scored the winning goal after coach Jim Montgomery said following Game 6 that “Pasta needs to step up.”

That he did. The goal came 1:54 into overtime.

BOSTON BREAKS TORONTO’S HEART AGAIN 🐻

DAVID PASTRNAK WITH THE GAME 7 OT WINNER‼️ pic.twitter.com/AVHN5gZfaV

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) May 5, 2024

Here are three quick takeaways:

Jeremy Swayman was the Bruins’ best player in Round 1. The ace goalie, starting six of the seven games, was sharp throughout the series. One of his sharpest Game 7 stops was in the third period, when he pushed from right to left to get in front of Tyler Bertuzzi’s shot off a Mitch Marner feed.

At the end of regulation, after a William Nylander puck skidded off Parker Wotherspoon, Swayman scrambled to his left to stop the shot before time ran out.

Clutch stop by Swayman in the dying seconds of regulation 🛑

Watch Game 7 OT between the Leafs and Bruins on Sportsnet or stream on Sportnet+. pic.twitter.com/pmcEIJTMgs

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) May 5, 2024

Swayman is looking like a long-term ace. He finished Saturday with 30 saves. He started the final five games of the series and had a .950 save percentage.

Sticking to structure

The Bruins didn’t panic after giving up the first goal of the night Saturday to William Nylander in the third period. The Leafs scored the goal off bad luck — a Brandon Carlo tumble, perhaps aided by Bertuzzi, that gave Toronto numbers attacking the net.

WILLIAM NYLANDER!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/ikahuV9KKL

— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) May 5, 2024

The Bruins kept the pressure on the Leafs. The No. 3 line, playing the puck down low, helped Hampus Lindholm score the tying goal just over a minute after Toronto took the lead.

The one that tied it up 🔨 pic.twitter.com/JVhJKCxGzs

— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) May 5, 2024

Better start

The Bruins had nothing in the first period of Game 5, when they were outshot by an 11-2 margin. It wasn’t much better in Game 6. The Leafs held a 12-1 shot advantage over the Bruins after 20 minutes. It set the tone for the rest of the night both times.

Things turned around in Game 7. The Bruins were the better team in the opening period. They outshot the Leafs, 11-8. Lindholm led the charge with four pucks on net. Even though the Bruins didn’t score, the better effort gave them life to carry through the rest of the game.

(Photo: Steve Babineau/NHLI via Getty Images)