BSJ Game Report: Bruins 4, Maple Leafs 2 - B’s strong 3rd period, complete effort snaps losing streak

Everything you need to know from the Bruins’ 4-2 win over the Maple Leafs in quickie form, with BSJ insight and analysis:

Box Score

TOP TAKEAWAYS

B’s get back in win column with strong third: The Bruins and Leafs might have been tied going into the second intermission, but Boston had to be less than thrilled with their O-zone chances through the first 40 minutes of play — with Toronto holding a dominant 51-30 edge in 5v5 shot attempts up to that point in the contest. 

But, after coughing up a four-goal lead to the Panthers during the final stanza on Tuesday night, a desperate B’s club put Toronto on its heels for most of the third period on Friday — scoring three goals and controlling O-zone play in what stood as Boston’s first victory since November 4. 

While Boston regained the lead just 11 seconds into the stanza off of a tally from Brad Marchand, it looked as though we were in for another back-and-forth scrap at Scotiabank Arena after Kasperi Kapanen tied things up once again at 3:54 in the third. 

But things quickly went south for a Leafs team that has now yet to win in four straight games, as Marchand beat Frederik Andersen just 1:14 later to give the B’s a lead that they would not relinquish. 

As the final seconds ticked off the clock, Toronto closed out the final 20 minutes of play with just seven 5v5 shots on goal and four scoring chances. Toronto might be in rough shape right now, but to control a third period like that — especially on the road — was very impressive for a B’s team that avoided its first five-game losing streak since 2016. 

A shorthanded B’s club gets the job done: Marchand might have tallied two goals and Tuukka Rask finished with 29 saves, but it was a collective effort from a shorthanded roster that allowed Boston to get back in the win column. 

Whether it be a goal from a reworked second line with Charlie Coyle and Anders Bjork on the wing, a number of pugnacious shifts from the usual suspects on the fourth line in Chris Wagner, Sean Kuraly and Joakim Nordstrom, six hits in 8:35 of ice time for Trent Frederic and 16:03 of TOI for Urho Vaakanainen — Bruce Cassidy’s club did more than enough to post a hard-earned road win on Friday night. 

With only Brett Ritchie possibly set to return on Saturday night, look for this same crop of players to get another run together — this time against a loaded Capitals team. 

FOUR UP

Brad Marchand: While Boston’s top line was unable to cash in over the first two periods, Marchand absolutely put the team on his back in the final 20 minutes — becoming the only player in NHL history to score in the opening 15 seconds of a period on seven occasions. Add in an eventual game-winning strike later in the third, and it was a pretty solid night for Marchand in what stood as his 700th career game. 

Also, what a flex in a rival arena to close this one out: 

https://twitter.com/ConorRyan_93/status/1195538138363572226

The Krejci Line: Boston’s second line was shuffled up once again going into Friday’s matchup after Anders Bjork was bumped up into the top-six, but the Krejci line did its part to land some punches against the Leafs’ defense — teaming up for a 5v5 tally in the first period before Charlie Coyle helped set up Marchand’s second tally of the third period later on. It remains to be seen how long this line remains intact, considering that Coyle is still likely best suited for the third-line center spot. But, with Jake DeBrusk and other top-six options out, this current combination seems like a more than dependable fix in the short term. 

Matt Grzelcyk: Grzelcyk put together one of his best games in some time on Friday, setting up Coyle’s goal while generating a number of other quality chances by pushing the puck through the neutral zone and activating down low. In Grzelcyk’s 15:06 of 5v5 TOI, the Bruins held a 24-14 edge in shot attempts and a 17-8 advantage in shots on goal. 

https://twitter.com/ConorRyan_93/status/1195498030960697344

Penalty kill: After surrendering four power-play goals in its last three games, the B’s PK rebounded against the Leafs — negating both of Toronto’s 5v4 stretches while holding the Leafs to just two shots on goal. 

ONE DOWN

Power play: Boston’s power play fell into a rut on Friday without Torey Krug, failing to cash in on both of its chances on the man advantage — landing just one shot on goal in 4:00 of 5v4 action. 

PLAY OF THE GAME

Give Andersen an assist on this one, but still — what a heads-up play by Marchand to bring the puck to the net and make something out of nothing. 

https://twitter.com/ConorRyan_93/status/1195526370866188288

PARTING THOUGHT

Good lord, Charlie McAvoy:

https://twitter.com/ConorRyan_93/status/1195516620443193349

Also, Chris Wagner — sheesh:

https://twitter.com/ConorRyan_93/status/1195501104819294208

LOOKING AHEAD:

The Bruins will be right back at it on Saturday night, as the B’s will welcome the Washington Capitals to TD Garden. The Capitals, who lead all NHL clubs in points off of a 14-2-4 record, might have lost their last meeting against Boston— a 1-0 road decision back on Feb. 3 — but ahead of that matchup, the Bruins had lost 14 STRAIGHT to the Capitals.