NHL playoffs | The Bruins win 2-1 in overtime and eliminate the Maple Leafs

(Boston) David Pastrnak scored in overtime and the Boston Bruins won Game 7 of their first-round series against the Toronto Maple Leafs 2-1 on Saturday.

Following a clearance by Hampus Lindholm, Pastrnak was the first player to get to the puck and found himself alone in front of Ilya Samsonov. He took the opportunity to score his third goal of the playoffs.

The Massachusetts club will face the Florida Panthers in the Eastern semifinals.

For his part, Auston Matthews was back after missing the previous two games due to a mysterious illness.

Matthews set up William Nylander’s goal midway through the third period, while Samsonov made 29 saves.

Lindholm responded less than two minutes later for the Bruins. Jeremy Swayman stopped 30 shots.

The Bruins were trying to avoid being eliminated two years in a row after squandering a 3-1 lead in their first-round series. The Panthers played the trick on them last spring.

Goaltender Joseph Woll, who helped the Maple Leafs erase a 3-1 series deficit and force the final game, was not in uniform. The Maple Leafs simply indicated before the start of Saturday’s game that he was injured in Game 6.

A duel of goalkeepers

Samsonov made his presence felt at the start of the match, making many good saves.

Swayman also scored on a point-blank shot from Nylander with just over four minutes remaining in the first period.

Both teams had power plays in the second period. Again the guards closed the door.

Samsonov was vigilant to repel a powerful one-timer from Pastrnak midway through the period.

For his part, Swayman frustrated Connor Dewar, who had escaped shorthanded.

Matthew Knies also missed his chance on a breakaway when he left the penalty box. He was mowed down by defender Kevin Shattenkirk, who was retreating, but the referees did not take action against the Bruins player.

Samsonov got lucky early in the third period, when a shot from Justin Brazeau reached the end of his stick handle before ending up in the protective net.

Nylander finally opened the scoring at 9:01 of the final period. He hit a one-timer following a pass from Matthews. Tyler Bertuzzi appeared to have tripped defender Brandon Carlo in the corner earlier, but the referees looked the other way.

Lindholm responded 1:21 later, surprising Samsonov on the near side as the Maple Leafs goaltender appeared to have his vision blurred.

Pastrnak then made the difference during the extra period.