Marner, Andersen spark Leafs game six win

April 23, 2018

 

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.