Maple Leafs score twice on the PP, hold on to beat Bruins 4-3
A James van Riemsdyk tally a minute into the third period proved to be the game-winner on the night, as the Maple Leafs skated into the Garden and beat the Bruins 4-3.
The Bruins did not have their A-game, and for a majority of the game the Leafs had the better of the play over the B's. Twice the Leafs came back from one goal deficits, and eventually they grabbed the lead and never gave it back, weathering plenty of chances from the Bruins and a last-minute flurry with the goalie pulled.
Brad Marchand got the Bruins on the board first at 3:38, putting home the puck after some nifty work from Reilly Smith, who split the defense and put a backhanded shot on Leafs goalie Jonathan Bernier. It was Marchand's 11th goal on the year, with the other assist going to Patrice Bergeron.
The lead didn't last for long, as Tyler Bozak tied the game up just two minutes later, slipping a shot past Rask after a slapshot from the blueline died in front of the crease.
But it was Bergeron who put the Bruins ahead again at 10:48, who also bagged his 11th on the year. From behind the net, Bergeron shimmied to the side and slipped the puck past the tightest of spaces between the post and Bernier's pads.
And yet again, the lead didn't last for long, and yet again it was Bozak who made it happen, tying the game at 2's at 12:47. On the powerplay due to a Carl Soderberg hook, the Leafs worked the puck in the zone, where some tick-tack passing set up the tally, highlighted by James van Riemsdyk's no-look behind the back pass right to Bozak who buried it in the open net.
Jake Gardiner scored the only goal in the second, giving the Leafs the lead again on the man-advantage. Gardiner beat Rask glove-side, and it was one that Tuukka cannot give up, as it squeaked past the angle near the post.
van Riemsdyk gave the Leafs a two-goal lead just one minute into the third, ripping a wrist-shot that beat Rask glove-side. JVR's shot took the slightest deflection off of Zdeno Chara's stick, altering the path just enough to trip up Rask.
Greg Campbell got the Bruins back within one at 9:35, backhanding a feed from Danny Paille that beat Bernier high on the glove-side.
The fourth-line brought the energy back into the building, and it looked like the Bruins were ready to put together another comeback against the Leafs.
But the Leafs held on for dear life, turning aside the B's in the last half of the period to seal the win and hand the Bruins a rare home-ice loss.
After beating the San Jose Sharks 1-0 on Saturday, it looked like the Bruins were on their way to righting the ship after a few weeks of less than stellar play.
But the Maple Leafs tugged the Bruins back down the ladder, putting four past Rask and outworking the Bruins for a majority of the game.
The B's hit the road again, with games vs Dallas and Chicago on Thursday and Sunday.
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| photo by Steve Babineau via Getty Images |
Brad Marchand got the Bruins on the board first at 3:38, putting home the puck after some nifty work from Reilly Smith, who split the defense and put a backhanded shot on Leafs goalie Jonathan Bernier. It was Marchand's 11th goal on the year, with the other assist going to Patrice Bergeron.
The lead didn't last for long, as Tyler Bozak tied the game up just two minutes later, slipping a shot past Rask after a slapshot from the blueline died in front of the crease.
But it was Bergeron who put the Bruins ahead again at 10:48, who also bagged his 11th on the year. From behind the net, Bergeron shimmied to the side and slipped the puck past the tightest of spaces between the post and Bernier's pads.
And yet again, the lead didn't last for long, and yet again it was Bozak who made it happen, tying the game at 2's at 12:47. On the powerplay due to a Carl Soderberg hook, the Leafs worked the puck in the zone, where some tick-tack passing set up the tally, highlighted by James van Riemsdyk's no-look behind the back pass right to Bozak who buried it in the open net.
Jake Gardiner scored the only goal in the second, giving the Leafs the lead again on the man-advantage. Gardiner beat Rask glove-side, and it was one that Tuukka cannot give up, as it squeaked past the angle near the post.
van Riemsdyk gave the Leafs a two-goal lead just one minute into the third, ripping a wrist-shot that beat Rask glove-side. JVR's shot took the slightest deflection off of Zdeno Chara's stick, altering the path just enough to trip up Rask.
 |
| photo by Steve Babineau via Getty Images |
The fourth-line brought the energy back into the building, and it looked like the Bruins were ready to put together another comeback against the Leafs.
But the Leafs held on for dear life, turning aside the B's in the last half of the period to seal the win and hand the Bruins a rare home-ice loss.
After beating the San Jose Sharks 1-0 on Saturday, it looked like the Bruins were on their way to righting the ship after a few weeks of less than stellar play.
But the Maple Leafs tugged the Bruins back down the ladder, putting four past Rask and outworking the Bruins for a majority of the game.
The B's hit the road again, with games vs Dallas and Chicago on Thursday and Sunday.
- Tuukka Rask is playing through his first rut of the season, as he gave up four more goals vs the Leafs. He surrendered three to the Kings before being pulled, five to the Ducks and five to the Islanders on New Year's Eve. Curious thing is, he's had a shutout and a one-goal game sprinkled in between the stinkers.
- The penalty kill was again torched, giving up two more goals to the Leafs. They've given up 10 power play goals in the last seven games.
- And no surprise, the dip in the PK coincides with the loss of defenseman Dennis Seidenberg for the year with his ACL injury.
- The power play has not been good either, as the B's are on a 0-16 stretch in the month of January.
- A 2-1 win by the Tampa Bay Bolts puts them in a tie with Boston for first in the Atlantic, with both teams sitting with 60 points.
