Boston Bruins: 3 Candidates to be Series MVP vs. Islanders
By Scott Roche
No. 2 – Taylor Hall
When Bruins general manager Don Sweeney traded for Taylor Hall from the Buffalo Sabres late into the night on April 11, it looked good on paper, but there was still one question that remained, “Can he produce in the playoffs?”
Following the first round against the Capitals, the answer was yes. Can he continue it against the Islanders? If he does, there’s a good chance the Bruins can win the series and get out of the East Division playoffs.
Related Story. Taylor Hall is Thriving in the Playoffs. light
In five games against Washington, Hall was two goals and one assist, but it was the timing of the goals that allowed the Bruins to win Games 2 and 3. In Game 2, with the Bruins just under three minutes away from going down in a 2-0 hole, he tied the game by stuffing home a loose puck to force overtime, which Brad Marchand won just 39 ticks into the extra session to even the series.
In Game 3, he tied the game 56 seconds after Alex Ovechkin gave the Caps a 1-0 in the second period, en route to another Bruins overtime win and a series lead they would not give up.
In the regular season, Hall eight goals, six assists, and plus/minus of plus-15 in 16 games with Bruins following the trade, but he also revived David Krejci and Craig Smith. The trio has given Boston two goal-scoring lines and Hall is one player that can score goals in bunches, something the Bruins hope he can do over the next two weeks.