BSJ Game Report: Bruins 4, Maple Leafs 3: B's return to form in win over rival Toronto

HEADLINES

Grzelcyk scores late to push Bruins to victory: Matt Grzelcyk notched the go-ahead goal with less than two minutes to go in the Bruins' 4-3 win over the Maple Leafs on Saturday at the TD Garden.

The Charlestown native uncorked a slap shot from the left point that Toronto goalie Matt Murray couldn't catch, putting the B's back in the win column.

"That was [Grzelcyk's] best game of the year, he was unreal defensively and offensively," Bruins coach Jim Montgomery said. "I'm glad he got rewarded because he's been really good ever since we went out to the west coast trip. He's been picking up his offensive side and his defensive gaps."

Grzelcyk's second goal of the year halted the Maple Leafs' four-game winning streak against the Bruins, which dated back to the 2019-20 season.

"I think [Hall] tried to make a play to the net and just looking at video, we've been talking about getting the D active and it bounced right to my stick and it went in," Grzelcyk said.

Patrice Bergeron, David Pastrnak and A.J. Greer each netted goals for the Bruins, while Linus Ullmark turned aside 18 shots in goal for the win.

Toronto wasted no time on its first power play opportunity as Michael Bunting rifled a shot past Ullmark after a centering pass from Tavares. The goal came 4:45 into the first to give the Maple Leafs the early 1-0 advantage.

The captain evened the score in typical Bergeron fashion. First, No. 37 disrupted a Maple Leafs defender in the offensive zone, causing a loose puck that Brad Marchand scooped up and gave right back to Bergeron. The B's veteran slotted his 16th of the season at 15:02 of the frame to make it 1-1.

The visitors reclaimed their lead less than three minutes into the second on a long-distance strike from Pierre Engvall. The Leafs forward took control in the B's defensive zone and carried it all the way up the ice before beating Ullmark far side for the 2-1 lead.

Pastrnak's sharp stick brought the game back to all square at 5:52 of the period, after picking off a Toronto D-to-D pass. Marchand joined in on the rush, but Pastrnak kept it to himself and sent a short-side dart past Murray to change the score to 2-2.

After a few hairy shifts from the B's in their own zone, the fourth line came right down the ice and scored to grab their first lead of the game. Greer's shot trickled through Murray's five-hole at 10:33 to put the Bruins ahead, 3-2.

The Maple Leafs once again found the back of the net in the opening minutes of a period, this time it was Auston Matthews after the B's failed to clear the puck. Matthews danced around the O-zone before sending the puck top shelf, 3:17 into the frame.

Grzelcyk's goal with 1:16 left all but assured the victory and pushed the Bruins to an even 70 points on the season.

THUMBS UP

Nick Foligno concluded as one of the nine B's skaters to pick up a point on Saturday with a helper, but the centerman played strong all night long.

The former Blue Jackets captain fought one-time teammate Wayne Simmonds in the first period, which helped the Bruins get involved emotionally.

Foligno's nifty feed to Greer highlighted a solid outing for the veteran.

THUMBS DOWN

This one feels a bit mean, but Pavel Zacha missed another wide-open net. Hampus Lindholm sprung loose on a shorthanded 2-on-1 during the second and threw a softball to Murray's right pad, which caused the puck to pop right onto Zacha's stick.

Unfortunately for the B's winger, the puck grazed the near post and marked another instance where No. 18 fumbled a grade-a scoring chance. 

Despite the miss, Zacha earned himself a new contract with a four-year, $4.75 million extension that was announced after the game.

PLAY OF THE GAME

Murray's first save of the game was his best of the night as the Leafs tender flashed the leather to steal one from Marchand in the first. 

AROUND THE ATLANTIC

The Panthers snagged an important win after taking down the Canucks, 4-3. Florida tallied three second-period goals to move to five points out of the second wild card spot in the Atlantic.

Former Bruins Jack Studnicka started the scoring for the Canucks, who dropped their fourth straight contest.

LOOKING AHEAD

The surging Flyers come to town on Monday for the Martin Luther King Jr Day matinee at the Garden. Philadelphia has won seven of eight after beating the Capitals, 3-1, on Saturday.

Puck drop is set for 1 p.m.