The stage is set for Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs between the Boston Bruins and the Toronto Maple Leafs. The NHL announced an 8 p.m. EST start time for the two rivals to begin their first-round series at TD Garden on Saturday.
The remaining series schedule has yet to be released.
The Bruins, who finished second in the Atlantic Division after their 3-1 loss to the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday, will have home-ice advantage throughout the best-of-seven series.
Boston swept the season series against Toronto, winning all four games in the regular season.
It’s unclear who will start in net for the Bruins. Coach Jim Montgomery said after Tuesday’s game that he hadn’t made a decision between Jeremy Swayman and Linus Ullmark, and that an answer probably wouldn’t come before Saturday morning.
Swayman had success against Toronto this year, going 3-0-0 with a 1.30 goals-against average and a .959 save percentage in three starts. Ullmark, meanwhile, was in net for the Dec. 2 overtime win when he made 37 saves.
“We haven’t had any conversations whatsoever,” Ullmark said of who will start Game 1.
The Bruins and the Maple Leafs last met in the postseason in 2019, with Boston winning in seven games.