In a must win game to save their season Sunday afternoon at ScotiaBank Arena in Toronto, the Boston Bruins got two goals from Brad Marchand to defeat the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-2 and tie their best of seven first round NHL playoff series 3-3 with a game seven to be played on their home ice back in Boston on Tuesday night.
Morgan Rielly gave the host Maple Leafs the lead at 9:42 of the first stepping into a slap shot after a drop pass near the blue line from William Nylander. Marchand tied it for the Bruins 1:41 later on the powerplay. Right off a faceoff, Marchand slapped a hard shot that deflected off a Toronto defenders chin pad and beat goalie Frederik Andersen to make it 1-1. Torey Krug gave Boston a lead they wouldn’t give back scoring on the powerplay at 17:02, firing a rebound that found his stick after a David Pastrnak shot.
The Bruins extended to 3-1 with the only second period goal on a two on one breakout. Pastrnak found Jake Debrusk in the crease with a pass that Debrusk re-directed into the net. Boston outshot Toronto 30-15 over the first 40 minutes, using a strong forecheck and layered defense to limit the Leafs chances.
The Leafs attacked hard in the third period, and Auston Matthews one timed wrist shot from just outside the faceoff circles to the left of Boston goalie Tuuka Rask found some post and the net at 4:15 to cut the deficit to 3-2. It was Matthews fifth goal in the last four games in the series, as he was held scoreless in the first two games. Both teams had great chances with the Bruins coming on a breakaway by Debrusk that was stopped with 9:30 left, and on a Maple Leafs give away in front of their own net that landed right on Pastrnaks stick but Andersen sprawled out to keep it a one goal game. Toronto pulled Andersen with just over two minutes left, and Marchand found the empty cage with 1:54 showing on the clock to clinch the win.
Rask made 22 saves in the Bruins net in the win, while Andersen was also big for the Leafs in the loss by keeping them in the game with 37 saves. Marchand had the two goals and an assist to lead Boston, while Pastrnak added two assists. The Bruins were 2-2 on the powerplay, while the Leafs were 0-3.
Game seven is scheduled for faceoff at 7 pm at TD Garden in Boston Tuesday night. The winner will face the Columbus Blue Jackets in the second round.
