Frederik Andersen made 32 saves, and Mitch Marner scored the game winning goal in the second period to help the Toronto Maple Leafs to a 3-1 win over the Boston Bruins in game six of an NHL first round series at Air Canada Centre in Toronto. The best of seven series is now tied 3-3.
Jake Debrusk got Boston off to a good start after a scoreless opening period, scoring his third of the series at 1:02 of the middle period to make it 1-0. William Nylander made sure the lead didn’t last long, tying the score for Toronto at 1-1 just 35 seconds later. Marner would get the eventual game winner when he would find a loose puck in front of Boston goalie Tuuka Rask, and backhanded a shot into the far right corner of the net at 13:25 making it 2-1 Leafs.
Both teams had superior chances in period three, including two huge stops by Rask 1:15 apart late in the period on a pair of two on one breakouts by Toronto. The Bruins also couldn’t find the net, and after pulling Rask for an extra skater with about 1:35 left, Tomas Plekanac buried the empty net goal with 1:14 to go to secure the Leafs win. Marner and Plekanac also had an assist on the night to go along with their goals. Nikita Zaitsev also added a pair of assists.
Rask ended with 27 saves in the loss. Boston was 0-2 on the powerplay, while Toronto was 0-3 with the extra man. The Bruins will get home ice for game seven, trying to avoid blowing a 3-1 series lead.
That seventh and decisive game will be back at TD Garden in Boston on Wednesday night at 7:30 pm. The winner advances to second round to face the Tampa Bay Lightning.
