"Leafs are being dominated in every way": NHL fans react to Pat Maroon's hard hit on Timothy Liljegren in Bruins' Game 1 demolition

NHL fans were electrified by the intensity of Game 1 between the Boston Bruins and the Toronto Maple Leafs. The thunderous hit by Bruins forward Pat Maroon truly ignited the crowd at TD Garden.

Maroon delivered a bone-crushing check that sent Leafs defenseman Timothy Liljegren sprawling into the Bruins' bench.

Reacting to a post on X, one fan succinctly summarized the tone of the game, remarking,

"Leafs are getting dominated in every way."

Another fan predicted the trajectory of the series, noting,

"This is how this whole series is gonna go. The Leafs are going to be destroyed when it's all said and done. They have no one but Domi on that team who can play skilled physical hockey."

For some fans, Pat Maroon's performance was emblematic of his value in playoff hockey.

"Pat Maroon is made for playoff hockey," declared one supporter

However, not all reactions were entirely positive.

One fan speculated on the impact of having a player like Ryan Reaves on the roster, suggesting,

"If they had Reaves there’s no way this would happen."

Others emphasized the importance of awareness on the ice, cautioning,

"Gotta pay attention around you when you have the puck."

Despite this, Pat Maroon's physical presence continued to leave an impact, with fans recognizing his role in establishing the tone for the Bruins.

"Pat Maroon still beating up the Leafs," one fan observed

Amid the praise and analysis, some injected humor into the conversation.

"Goon Maroon thinks he's a hockey player now in the playoffs, LOL," commented one fan

Boston Bruins secure 5-1 victory over Toronto Maple Leafs, with Pat Maroon in attendance

The Boston Bruins secured a 5-1 victory over the Maple Leafs in the opening game of the playoff series.

Despite a tense moment when Toronto's Auston Matthews nearly equalized, hitting the post, the Bruins capitalized on opportunities. Jonny Beecher scored early for Boston, followed by goals from Brandon Carlo and Jake DeBrusk, the latter scoring twice on power plays.

Trent Frederic secured the victory with an empty-net goal. David Kampf scored Toronto's lone goal. Bruins goalie Jeremy Swayman made key stops, while Maple Leafs goalie Ilya Samsonov faced 23 shots.

Despite Toronto's efforts to set a physical tone, including a pre-game altercation, they couldn't overcome Boston's lead. The Bruins' victory extends Toronto's playoff struggles against them, with the Leafs unable to defeat the Bruins in playoff encounters since 1959.

The absence of Toronto's William Nylander due to injury further hindered their efforts. The series moves to Boston for Game 2, with uncertainty over the Bruins' starting goalie between Swayman and Linus Ullmark.