Once again the Boston Bruins showed why they are a force to be reckoned with this post season. Despite the backing of the home crowd behind them, the Toronto Maple Leafs were only able to muster a single goal on 31 shots at Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask. Despite being out shot 32-21 and beaten on the draw 63%-37% the Bruins were able to make the most of their chances and ultimately walked away with a victory.
Before the game Bruins center Patrice Bergeron was listed as day-to-day with an upper body injury. Other notable omissions from the game for the Leafs were winger Nazem Kadri who’s serving the final day of his three game suspension, and Leo Komarov who was a healthy scratch.
The game started off very well for Boston as they scored on their first shot of the game. Defenceman Torey Krug let go a wrist shot from the blue line on the left side beating Leafs Goaltender Fredrick Andersen over the shoulder for a 1-0 lead. The bruins seemed to have all the momentum in the opening five minutes of the game. That is until the Leafs tied the game at 1 with a one timer by Tomas Plekanec for his first of the playoffs. The score would remain tied after the first with the Leafs out shooting the Bruins 12-7.
The second period was overall closer than the first for shots, however the Bruins were the only ones to add to the score sheet. With about four minutes left in the second period, Boston got on a two on one and David Pasternak fed a sweet dish to Brad Marchand who made no mistake burying the one-timer in the back of the net giving Boston a 2-1 lead. The score could have been much different had Mitch Marner of the leafs scored on an earlier breakaway that was ultimately turned aside by Tuukka Rask. The Leafs out shot the Bruins 10-9 in the period but were still trailling 2-1 after 2.
Once again the Maple Leafs came out of the gate with purpose as they continued to out shoot Boston in the third. However it was the Bruins who would score the only goal of the period. The bruins got another two on one in the first five minutes of the period where David Krejci set up Jake DeBrusk for the one timer and the 3-1 lead. Again Toronto’s Mitch Marner had an opportunity to tie draw the leafs within a goal but had elected to pass instead of shoot on a grade “A” scoring chance. The Leafs out shot the Bruins 10-5 in the third and 32-21 in the game but still came up short as the bruins took the game by a score of 3-1. With that loss the Bruins now also have a 3-1 series lead and will look to take the Leafs out in 5 as they play game 5 in Boston on Saturday April 21st.
