Maple Leafs defeat Bruins in Game 3, take series lead
Matthews, Johnsson each has goal, assist for Toronto
via NHL.com
Auston Matthews and Andreas Johnsson each had a goal and an assist for the Toronto Maple Leafs in a 3-2 win against the Boston Bruins in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference First Round at Scotiabank Arena on Monday.
The Maple Leafs lead the best-of-7 series 2-1.
Frederik Andersen made 34 saves for Toronto.
David Krejci and Charlie Coyle scored, and Tuukka Rask made 31 saves for the Bruins.
Game 4 is at Toronto on Wednesday (7 p.m. ET; NBCSN, CBC, TVAS, NESN).
The Maple Leafs went up 1-0 at 2:38 of the second period when Trevor Moore scored from in close on the rebound of Morgan Rielly’s shot from the left half-wall.
Krejci tied it 1-1 at 3:30 when he scored from the slot on the rebound of Jake DeBrusk’s shot from the right of the net along the goal line.
Matthews one-timed a pass from Johnsson at the side of the net on the power play to put Toronto up 2-1 at 10:12.
Johnsson made it 3-1 on the power play at 17:12 when he took a pass from John Tavares from behind the net and backhanded a shot from the slot.
The Bruins cut the lead to 3-2 at 19:22 on the power play when Coyle shot over Andersen’s blocker from the slot.
Teams that win Game 3 of a best-of-7 Stanley Cup Playoff series that was tied 1-1 have a series record of 212-100 (.679).
Toronto played without center Nazem Kadri, who was suspended for the rest of the series Monday for cross-checking DeBrusk in Game 2 on Saturday.
They said it
“It’s about keeping the puck in the offensive zone, and once you do have possession, it’s about getting it to the net a little bit more. We can’t stay on the outside; we have to find ways to create some chances. Their defensemen are doing a good job, but it’s that type of game where you need to be moving your feet and be on top of them.” — Bruins center Patrice Bergeron
“That’s something we struggled with our first year. It’s come quite a long way, and now you just got guys, doesn’t matter who, sacrificing their body and blocking shots and paying the price to obviously win games. Like [Mitchell Marner] those last two shots, those two blocks were huge for us. It doesn’t matter who you are, when you see a guy like him sacrifice their body, I think it just motivates everybody on the bench, and obviously with time winding down, that was huge.” — Maple Leafs forward Auston Matthews on holding the lead in the third period
“I think we did a good job in the third period. We’re not crumbling, and we feel good and we’re not changing the way we play. We still go after them and we still play the way that’s put us in that position, which is important. In years past, you’ve watched us play well for two periods, and then get a little bit nervous and tense up a little bit, but I don’t think that’s happening right now. We’re having confidence in ourselves.” — Maple Leafs defenseman Morgan Rielly
Need to know
Teams that win Game 3 of a best-of-7 NHL playoff series that was tied 1-1 have a series record of 212-100 (.679). … Forward Tyler Ennis took Kadri’s place in the Maple Leafs lineup. He was plus-1 with an assist and two hits in 6:54 in his 2018 postseason debut.
What’s next
Game 4 of Eastern Conference First Round at Scotiabank Arena on Wednesday (7 p.m. ET; NBCSN, CBC, TVAS, NESN)
Gigantic mood 🔥🔥🔥#LeafsForever pic.twitter.com/6Qj0HjiGjH
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) April 16, 2019
Buds battle to beat the Bruins and grab a 2-1 series lead.
Check out tonight's @OntarioLottery Game Winning Numbers.#LeafsForever #That649Feeling pic.twitter.com/0tmL2GAaeQ
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) April 16, 2019
Mike Babcock of the @MapleLeafs earned his 89th career win in the #StanleyCup Playoffs to tie Glen Sather and Darryl Sutter for seventh place on the NHL’s all-time list. #NHLStats pic.twitter.com/mZKPtUUd0q
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) April 16, 2019
Laying everything on the line!
Two huge blocks by @Marner93 in the dying seconds. #LeafsForever pic.twitter.com/RRbdK4rsmq
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) April 16, 2019
The stage is set. #LeafsForever pic.twitter.com/Zkyhl0kWy8
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) April 15, 2019