BSJ Game Report: Maple Leafs 4, Bruins 3 (OT) - B's can't convert multiple chances in frustrating loss

Everything you need to know from the Bruins’ 4-3 overtime loss to the Maple Leafs in quickie form, with BSJ insight and analysis…

Box Score

TOP TAKEAWAYS 

A brutal start for Boston: Even if Toronto’s first goal of the night came on a fortuitous bounce at 5:55, the Bruins didn’t exactly do themselves any favors in what was a brutal opening stanza up in Toronto. Boston managed to land 18 shots on goal in the first, but it only amounted to seven scoring chances — while sloppy puck play down the other end of the ice often resulted in Jaroslav Halak needing to bail his team out. 

Things went from bad to worse after Dmytro Timashov made it a 2-0 game at 15:44 — with the Ukrainian winger given a clean shot after Sean Kuraly and Boston’s fourth line failed to clear a puck out of the D-zone. Even if Jake DeBrusk managed to finally tally his first goal of the season at 19:39, Boston will likely want to burn most of the film from that opening 20 — a rarity for a team that has made a habit out of starting strong in the opening period this season. 

A dominant second yields no results: Sure, the Leafs’ blue line is in a much better place than it was a few years ago — especially with the addition of Jake Muzzin last winter and Tyson Barrie this summer. 

But let’s be realistic, this blue line is still woefully underwhelming, and the Bruins had their way in the O-zone during the middle stanza against this lot. In the second period alone, the Bruins held a commanding 29-8 edge in shot attempts and a 15-3 advantage in shots on goal — to go along with six high-danger scoring chances. Boston was ultimately unable to secure the equalizer despite its offensive onslaught against Frederik Andersen, but the case remains — this Toronto defense is still very easy to put on the ropes. 

B’s leave valuable point on the board: While David Pastrnak’s one-time bomb at 15:34 in the third period allowed the Bruins to force overtime and secure a point against a divisional opponent for the second straight game, the Bruins have to be kicking themselves that they didn’t land a knockout punch against a Toronto team that they managed to outshoot, 45-29, over 63:54 of ice time. 

Even if Morgan Rielly ultimately tipped one past Halak with a little over a minute remaining in the extra period, the Bruins do have some positives to take away from Saturday night. While Pastrnak might have tied things up, Boston benefitted from some secondary scoring at last — starting with DeBrusk’s tally in the first and complemented by a power-play strike from Danton Heinen at 1:36 in the third period. 

Still, a slow start and a slew of missed opportunities will likely have Bruce Cassidy and his players steamed as they head back down to Boston for a rematch against Toronto on Tuesday. 

TWO UP

Jake DeBrusk: The snakebit winger finally got on the board at 19:39 in the first, snapping one home after both Chris Wagner and Charlie Coyle fought for the puck behind the Leafs’ net. DeBrusk very well could have cashed in on another goal or two, as he was unable to beat Andersen on a breakaway in the early going before nearly knocking another one in on the power play. 

https://twitter.com/ConorRyan_93/status/1185714131346903040

David Pastrnak: Ho hum — just another two-point night for Pastrnak, who has now tallied 18 goals and 37 total points in his last 25 games against the Maple Leafs.

Pastrnak now has 15 points this season in just eight games played — marking the second straight season in which he has hit 15+ points before reaching 10 games played. Only four other Bruins have recorded at least 15 points in his first 10 team games multiple times — Bobby Orr (1969-70,1971-72, 1973-74, 1974-75), Phil Esposito (1970-71, 1971-72, 1973-74, 1974-75), Bill Cowley (1940-41, 1943-44, 1944-45) and Adam Oates (1992-93, 1993-94). 

https://twitter.com/ConorRyan_93/status/1185731104814370817

TWO DOWN

Sean Kuraly: Boston’s fourth-line center had a rough go of it on Saturday, as his inability to clear a puck out of the Bruins’ zone in the first led to Timashov’s tally. Another miscue from Kuraly led to a quality scoring chance for Tyson Barrie, who was given the entire slot to fire one in against Halak. Thankfully for Kuraly, Halak was able to come away with the glove stop. 

David Backes: Not exactly the return that the veteran envisioned, as Backes was knocked for a pair of goals against in just 6:42 of TOI. Backes also was whistled for a penalty after colliding into Andersen in the crease, but the Leafs’ power play was negated after Martin Marincin was called for roughing against Backes in the immediate aftermath. 

PLAY OF THE GAME

Jaroslav Halak absolutely robbed Barrie here with the entire slot open. Sick glove save from the B’s netminder.

https://twitter.com/ConorRyan_93/status/1185718004736245761

PARTING THOUGHT

DeBrusk finally breaks through — now let’s see if he can orchestrate another one of his patented hot streaks going forward. The B’s certainly could use one. 

https://twitter.com/ConorRyan_93/status/1185705947165016064

LOOKING AHEAD

The Bruins will wrap up their home-and-home set against the Leafs on Tuesday night, with puck drop at TD Garden set for 7 p.m. The last time Boston hosted Toronto on Causeway Street, the B’s bested the Leafs, 5-1, in Game 7 of the opening round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs on April 23.