BSJ Game Report: Maple Leafs 5, Bruins 2 - B’s defense folds up in Toronto

Everything you need to know from the Bruins’  5-2 loss to the Maple Leafs with BSJ insight and analysis:

Box Score

SHORT SHIFT

The first meeting between the Bruins and Maple Leafs in 722 days did not live up to the hype, at least for Bruce Cassidy and Co. — as shoddy defense sunk the B’s in what was a 5-2 loss at Scotiabank Arena.

Taylor Hall and David Pastrnak scored for the Bruins, who fall to 5-4-0 on the season. Linus Ullmark took the loss after relinquishing four goals on 35 shots against.

The Bruins got off to a promising start — with Boston’s power play connecting on its fifth goal in its last seven tries via a Hall tip tally at 8:37 in the first. 

John Tavares secured the equalizer for the home club at 12:21 in the same frame during a scrum down low — with officials confirming the goal after an arduous video review that eclipsed the five-minute mark.

Poor puck management and lackluster discipline doomed the B’s in the middle frame — with Auston Matthews scoring twice on power-play goals just 3:55 apart to put Toronto ahead for good. Tavares added some insurance with his second goal of the evening just 2:53 into the third. 

Pastrnak gave the Bruins some life when he cut into the deficit at 8:29 — sparking an extended stretch in which the Bruins outshot Toronto by a 15-2 margin. Alas, Jack Campbell (42 saves) stood tall and didn’t surrender another goal, with that 15-2 surge ending when Mitch Marner iced the contest for good with an empty-net strike.

TOP TAKEAWAYS  

Defense dooms B’s 

I pondered whether tonight would be the night where I commit to a “Six Down” section and list all six regulars on the Bruins’ D corps.

Ultimately, I relented — but such a move would be pretty justified after a performance like this. 

I mean, take your pick. 

Despite a resurgent third period, Charlie McAvoy had an ugly start — with Toronto outshooting Boston, 11-2, when he was on the ice through the first two periods of play.

Derek Forbort was out on the ice for both of Matthews’ power-play strikes, with a weak clear leading to Toronto’s first tally on the man advantage just seconds later.

You have … this sequence from a Grzelcyk-Reilly pairing that was downright ugly. 

Ullmark was far from spectacular in this one, but the Maple Leafs easily could have dropped a seven-spot on the Bruins had it not been for a few clutch stops in Grade-A ice. 

You simply can’t cough up this number of Grade-A chances — not against a team with as much firepower as the Leafs.

Of course, Toronto took advantage just seconds later — with Matthews blasting home his second goal of the evening to give Toronto a 3-1 lead.

Frustrating? Of course. Surprising? Not really, especially at Scotiabank Arena.

And even though Marchand did give the officials an earful at the end of the period, it’s still incumbent on the B’s to take care of the business at hand and close out that second period with a strong kill. 

But such a sequence didn’t end up playing out, with Boston failing to clear the puck out of the O-zone (a familiar flaw in a game like this) and giving Matthews the time and space needed (and he doesn’t need a ton) to fire off a shot from the right circle. 

ONE UP

Taylor Hall: He was aided by Toronto’s PK making the bold choice to not cover Patrice Bergeron at the bumper, but good on Hall for putting himself in the right spot for a tip — with the winger deflecting Bergeron’s slot shot in the first to put Boston on the board.

THREE DOWN

Charlie McAvoy: He redeemed himself a bit in the third, but McAvoy looked lost on some coverage assignments during the first 40 minutes of play. Very uncharacteristic, to say the least. 

Derek Forbort: Forbort’s struggles during 5v5 play could be absolved a bit if he was at least helping anchor Boston’s PK unit. Well, that hasn’t exactly gone according to plan, either. 

Power play: Hall might have scored on the man advantage to open the contest, but Boston didn't do all that much during their final three power-play chances — generating just one high-danger scoring chance in 6:55 of 5v4 ice time. 

PLAY OF THE GAME

Patrice Bergeron with the clutch save here on Morgan Rielly. pic.twitter.com/DYWy9arRoX

— Conor Ryan (@ConorRyan_93) November 6, 2021

LOOSE PUCKS

If I were a penalty kill I'd probably cover Bergeron at the bumper pic.twitter.com/hrRlRPEmuN

— Conor Ryan (@ConorRyan_93) November 6, 2021

QUOTE OF NOTE

“That’s what he’s here for.” - Bruce Cassidy on Forbort struggling on the PK.

LOOKING AHEAD

The Bruins return to Boston following tonight for a two-game homestand, hosting Ottawa on 11/9 and Edmonton on 11/11. Puck drop against the Sens on Tuesday is set for 7 p.m.