Final Maple Leafs 5, Bruins 4 F/OT - Marner scores overtime goal as Bruins lose 2 goal lead in 3rd period

A frustrating game for Bruins fans to watch as Boston falls to the Toronto Maple Leafs 5-4 in overtime. The Bruins had a two goal load going into the third period, but Toronto's gameplay finally clicked when it mattered most resulting in the overtime loss.

Right after the initial puck drop to start the game, David Pastrnak gave the Bruins the early lead receiving a home run pass from Mason Lohrei.

Later in the period, Brad Marchand extended Boston's lead with a power play goal that put the game 2-0 going into the first intermission.

In the second period, Morgan Geekie added onto Boston's lead scoring another power play goal. The Maple Leafs didn't play a quality first 40 minutes of hockey, and it resulted in six penalties by the end of the second period. 

The Maple Leafs would get on the board late in the second period with Morgan Reilly cutting Boston's lead back to two goals.

Going into the third period, all the Bruins had to do was prevent Toronto from scoring two goals, but that completely backfired. Looking more organized and motivated, the Maple Leafs tied the game in the first seven minutes as the Bruins struggled to control Toronto's storming offense.

However, the tie didn't last for long as Pastrnak gave the Bruins the lead back with his 30th goal of the season.

It looked like the Bruins were going to ride out the rest of the game and get the two points in a much needed Atlantic Division matchup, but Toronto again tied the game with a minute remaining in the third period.

In overtime, Boston and Toronto traded scoring chances on both sides of the ice, until Marner went on a breakaway scoring his second of the game to complete the comeback for the Maple Leafs.

This was a game that the Bruins should've easily won. The Maple Leafs played terrible hockey the first two periods of the game giving Boston six opportunities on the man-advantage. Once Boston went up 3-0 this game should've been set and stone, but there's a lack of motivation coming from this hockey team based on the final outcome of this game. A win in this game would've brought Boston back into a playoff spot, but they leave this game with only one point disappointing Bruins fans with this performance.

Next up on the schedule is the New York Islanders as they come into TD Garden on Thursday. Puck drop will take place at 7 p.m.

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WHO: Bruins (27-24-7) vs Maple Leafs (35-20-2)
WHEN: 7 p.m.
WHERE: TD Garden
TV: NESN
RADIO: 98.5-FM The Sports Hub

LIVE BOX SCORE

ROSTERS

PROJECTED LINES

Boston

Geekie - Zacha - Pastrnak

Marchand - Lindholm - Coyle

Frederic - Poitras - Wahlstrom

Koepke - Beecher - Kastelic

Zadorov - Carlo

Lohrei - Peeke

Callahan - Wotherspoon

Swayman

Korpisalo

Toronto

Knies - Matthews - Marner

Holmberg - Tavares - Nylander

McMann - Domi - Robertson

Lorentz - Kampf - Steeves

Stolarz

Woll

PREGAME NOTES

The Bruins will look to redeem themselves after their overtime loss to the Anaheim Ducks on Saturday, as the Toronto Maple Leafs head to town. 

Brad Marchand wants to stay in Boston and believes the Bruins can make the playoffs, per MassLive. On Sunday, Don Sweeney ruled nothing out at the trade deadline but expressed a desire to keep his captain beyond this year.

Bruins general manager Don Sweeney admitted the team will take a “more cautious approach” to the March 7 deadline and won’t be overly aggressive.“If there are opportunities to improve our team now and certainly moving forward — whether that’s positional shifts to identify that we may have a strength at — we will look at all opportunities to improve our team."