Final: Maple Leafs 6, Bruins 4 - Bruins lose 3rd straight game allowing hat trick to Matthew Knies

The Bruins lose their third straight game of the road trip falling to the Toronto Maple Leafs 6-4. It was another frustrating game for Boston that showcased many of the reoccurring flaws this team possesses.

It was a dry first period for the Bruins offensively, as Boston went down 1-0 going into the first intermission. The Bruins struggled to break the puck out of their own zone throughout this game, and the first goal was a prime example of this. With the puck stuck in Boston's own zone, Mitch Marner retrieved a loose puck and found a trailing Jake McCabe who scored the first goal of the game for Toronto

In the following period, the Bruins were able to respond making it seem as if they could come back in this game. After Matthew Knies scored Toronto's second goal, Morgan Geekie put Boston on the board scoring the first goal for Boston.

Late in the second, Trent Frederic tied the game for the Bruins sniping a shot in the slot after winning a face-off in the offensive zone. 

Up to this point, it looked like the momentum shifted to Boston's side heading into the final period. However, the Bruins weren't able to capitalize in the remaining 20 minutes.

Knies and David Pastrnak exchanged goals early in the third period, but Knies' third goal which completed his hat trick became the difference-maker in the game. 

With the Bruins unable to score on 5-on-5 play, Marner scored an empty net goal which that seemingly ended the game for Toronto.

The Bruins did make things interesting as Pastrnak scored his second of the game on Boston's second attempt with Swayman pulled. However, a second empty net goal from Auston Matthews officially ended the game for the Bruins.

The main catalyst towards this loss comes from the disappointing play from Boston's defensemen. Every defensemen for Boston struggled to break the puck out and play defense in front of their goalie, resulting in offensive chances that the Maples Leafs capitalized on. Swayman made great saves in the second period helping Boston tie the game, but he wasn't able to keep his strong play with the amount of defensive miscues caused by Charlie McAvoy, Brandon Carlo, and Mason Lohrei.

Additionally, the Bruins yet again struggled on the man advantage. They had two opportunities on the power play, and not one shot on goal was made. Joseph Woll did not have a good game for Toronto giving up countless rebound in front of the net, yet the Bruins weren't able to pressure Woll with rebound chances.

On a positive note, Frederic played his best game for the Bruins tonight. The struggling forward finally played his brand of hockey. On a new line with Oliver Wahlstrom and Justin Brazeau, Frederic and his line spent the most time in the offensive zone compared to the rest of Boston's forward lines, and it resulted in a tying goal in the game.

The Bruins return to Boston tonight playing another game this weekend against the New York Island. Tomorrow's puck drop is at 6 p.m.

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WHO: Bruins (20-16-4) vs Maple Leafs (24-13-2)
WHEN: 7 p.m.
WHERE: Scotiabank Arena, Toronto
TV: NESN
RADIO: 98.5-FM The Sports Hub

LIVE BOX SCORE

ROSTERS

PROJECTED LINES

Boston

Marchand - Lindholm - Pastrnak

Zacha - Coyle - Geekie 

Wahlstrom - Frederic - Brazeau

Beecher - Kastelic - Koepke

Zadorov - McAvoy

Oesterle - Carlo

Lohrei - Peeke

Swayman

Korpisalo

Toronto

Knies - Matthews - Marner

Pacioretty - Tavares - Nylander

McMann - Domi - Robertson

Lorentz - Kampf - Dewar

McCabe - Tanev

Rielly - Myers

Benoit - Ekman-Larsson

Woll

Hildeby

PREGAME NOTES

The Bruins play the Maple Leafs in Toronto for the second time this season looking to win season-series against their original six rival.

Auston Matthews returns to Toronto's lineup after missing his past six games. Matthews missed the first game against the Bruins earlier this season.

The Bruins and Marc Kastelic have agreed on a three-year extension at an average annual value of $1.567 million. This extension runs through the 2027-28 season. Kastelic was traded to the Bruins over the summer from the Senators in the Linus Ullmark trade.