The Bruins’ puzzling inability to secure crucial playoff victories on home ice is confounding.

Despite leading in regular season wins and playoff appearances since 2008-09, the Bruins have struggled to meet expectations over the past 15 years. Their failure to capture another Stanley Cup since 2011 can be attributed, in part, to their difficulty in securing crucial victories at TD Garden.

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Home ice advantage is typically considered a key factor in playoff success, with teams striving for it throughout the regular season. The advantage includes playing the majority of playoff games at home, along with the benefit of last line change and the support of home fans.

However, TD Garden has not provided the expected advantage for the Bruins in recent years. Their 2-1 overtime loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday exemplifies this trend. Despite facing a Leafs team missing star player Auston Matthews and starting a goalie, Joseph Woll, who had never defeated the Bruins, Boston failed to close out the series on home ice.

Despite expectations, the Bruins surprisingly began the game poorly, marked by numerous icings, sloppy handling of the puck, frequent faceoff losses, and a lack of offensive presence. They managed only two shots and two scoring opportunities in the opening 20 minutes.

“We didn’t meet the mark. It’s as simple as that,” commented Bruins head coach Jim Montgomery regarding his team’s sluggish start in Game 5. “Toronto showed up prepared and dominated us. We failed to match their level of urgency.”

The Bruins’ recent playoff record at home has been less than stellar, with just two victories in their last seven home playoff games. Despite starting strong with a win against the Florida Panthers in Game 1 last season, they faltered in their final three home games, suffering defeats in Game 5 and Game 7, both in overtime. A similar pattern emerged in the 2019 Stanley Cup Final against the St. Louis Blues, where they secured a Game 1 victory but subsequently lost three consecutive games on home ice, including Game 7.

Furthermore, the Bruins have faced setbacks in Game 5s at home, losing their last four encounters. Since their Stanley Cup win in 2011, they hold a 3-4 record in Game 7s at home, with all victories coming against the Leafs.

Looking at their overall playoff performance since 2018, the Bruins boast an 18-16 record at home compared to a 17-15 record on the road during that period (excluding the 2020 COVID bubble playoffs). In games where they have had the opportunity to eliminate their opponents at home, they hold a 6-9 record since 2012, having lost their last four such games.

The Leafs face their own playoff challenges as they prepare for Game 6 on Thursday. They have endured a streak of six consecutive home playoff losses, dating back to the first round of the 2023 playoffs. The Bruins showcased their top performances of the series in Toronto, securing impressive victories in Games 3 and 4.

While there is significant pressure on the Bruins to avoid squandering a 3-1 series lead for the second consecutive year, their opponents are also feeling the heat. The Leafs are burdened by their recent playoff disappointments and the looming possibility of roster changes in the offseason following another early exit from the postseason.

Despite being a formidable team for over a decade, the Bruins recognize the need to transform home ice into a genuine advantage if they aspire to contend for the Stanley Cup in the near future.

“We identified a missed opportunity, and we’re determined not to repeat it,” stated Bruins goalie Jeremy Swayman after Game 5. “The motivation stems from within, and it’s palpable in this locker room. We’ll show a different side come Thursday.”