Final: Bruins 5, Maple Leafs 3 - Bruins score three goals on power play, Pastrnak scores 400th goal

Trevor's Takeaways

Boston's Three Goal 1st Period

The Boston Bruins started the game strong thanks to self-inflicted wounds by the Maple Leafs. Toronto received three penalties through the first 10 minutes of the game, and the Bruins scored two power play goals in the process. Pavel Zacha started the scoring with a goal that ricocheted off his skate, and Hampus Lindholm scored the second goal with a shot from the point.

The Maple Leafs did score a short-handed goal in the process, but Boston's dominant start prevented the goal from mattering. 

Before the end of the period, former Maple Leaf Alex Steeves scored his first as a Bruin to give Boston a 3-1 lead going into the first intermission.

400 and 401

Boston continued their offensive success in the second and third periods thanks to a historic night from David Pastrnak. A minute into the second period, Pastrnak received a pass that put him on a breakaway, and the Czech native made history scoring his 400th career NHL goal.

The Maple Leafs slowly made a comeback and turned the game into a one-score lead for the Bruins by the third period. However, Pastrnak shut down Toronto's chances of making a comeback by scoring his 401st goal on the power play.

Pastrnak's second goal of the night killed the Maple Leafs momentum, and the Bruins finished the game with a 5-3 victory.

Making Fewer Mistakes

While it wasn't the cleanest game for the Bruins when it came to penalties, the Bruins did stay out of the box less than Toronto. When the game got chippy, Boston kept calm and didn't take anymore unnecessary penalties as they did. Despite the short-handed goal, the Bruins played the better game on special teams.

 They allowed only one power play goal and dominated this game on the power play. Their success in the first period resulted in Anthony Stolarz being benched going into the second intermission, and the Bruins stayed afloat the remainder of the game.

The Bruins will now travel back to Ottawa to take on the Senators on Thursday. Puck drop will be at 7 p.m.

_______________

WHO: Bruins (10-7-0) at Maple Leafs (8-7-1)
WHEN: 7 p.m.
WHERE: TD Garden, Boston
TV: TNT
RADIO: 98.5-FM The Sports Hub

LIVE BOX SCORE

PROJECTED LINES

Boston

Geekie - Khusnutdinov - Pastrnak

Steeves - Zacha - Arvidsson

Jeannot - Minten - Kastelic

Viel - Kuraly - Essymont

Zadorov - McAvoy

Lindholm - Peeke

Lohrei - Jokiharju

Swayman

Korpisalo

Maple Leafs

Knies - Matthews - Robertson

McMann - Tavares - Nylander

Joshua - Roy - Maccelli

Lorentz - Domi - Blais

Rielly - Carlo

Benoit - McCabe

Ekman-Larsson - Myers

Stolarz

Hildeby

PREGAME NOTES

The Boston Bruins look to extend their win streak in their second consecutive matchup against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Zdeno Chara and Joe Thornton were inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame yesterday. Thornton gave major praise to the Bruins alumni including Johnny Bucyk and Wayne Cashman. 

“My first couple of seasons in Boston were quite difficult. It was a difficult transition for me from the OHL to the NHL, but midway through my second year, I finally found my footing,” he said. “I remember how strong the Bruins alumni was and how I was instantly accepted by them. Bobby Orr, Wayne Cashman, Gerry Cheevers, Ken Hodge, Derek Sanderson and Tommy Johnson.

Casey Mittelstadt is considered week-to-week with a lower-body injury.