Toronto Maple Leafs Easily Beat Boston Bruins 4-1 To Take One Game Lead

This article was last updated on April 16, 2022

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Mitch Marner put the Maple Leafs on the board with a goal at 16:44 of the first period and later scored Toronto’s second goal of the game on a shorthanded penalty shot at 2:47 of the second period. Tonight’s game is Marner’s first career multi-goal performance in the playoffs and fifth career multi-point performance in the playoffs. His second period penalty shot is the second penalty shot goal in Maple Leafs franchise playoff history (Previous: Mats Sundin at Buffalo – May 29, 1999) and first penalty shot goal while shorthanded in franchise playoff history.

William Nylander scored the third Maple Leafs goal of the night at 18:25 of the second period. Nylander’s goal is his third career Stanley Cup playoff goal and first career Stanley Cup playoff goal on the road. He had four points (1-3-4) in seven playoff games in 2018.

John Tavares collected the secondary assist on Marner’s first period goal and later scored the fourth Toronto goal of the game into an empty net at 18:41 of the third period. Tavares has 24 points (12 goals, 12 assists) in 25 career Stanley Cup playoff games. Tonight’s game is his seventh career multi-point game in the postseason.

Jake Muzzin registered the primary assist on Marner’s first period goal. Muzzin has recorded 21 points (7-14-21) in 51 career Stanley Cup playoff games. He recorded 16 points (5-11-16) in 30 regular season games with the Maple Leafs after being acquired in a trade with Los Angeles on January 28, 2019.

Nazem Kadri registered the primary assist on Nylander’s second period goal. Kadri has nine points (2-7-9) in 18 career Stanley Cup playoff games. He has registered seven playoff points (1-6-7) in 12 career playoff games against Boston.

Patrick Marleau collected the secondary assist on Nylander’s second period goal. Marleau has 126 career playoff points (72 goals, 54 assists) in 185 career playoff games. He had five points (4-1-5) in seven playoff games against the Bruins in 2018. 

Frederik Andersen stopped 37 shots to earn his 35th career Stanley Cup playoff win.

SHOTS ON GOAL (5-on-5 in brackets)

 

1st

2nd

3rd

OT

TOTAL

TORONTO

10 (10)

14 (12)

9 (6)

33 (28)

BOSTON

8 (7)

21 (18)

9 (7)

38 (32)

 

SHOT ATTEMPTS (5-on-5 in brackets)

 

 

1st

2nd

3rd

OT

TOTAL

TORONTO

19 (19)

21 (18)

16 (12)

56 (49)

BOSTON

10 (9)

33 (30)

21 (17)

64 (56)

 

OF NOTE…

 

–          The Maple Leafs went 1-for-2 on the penalty kill and 0-for-1 on the power play tonight.

–          Toronto’s line of Zach Hyman, Mitch Marner and John Tavares started 33.3 percent of their 5-on-5 shifts in the offensive zone, which was the lowest mark among Toronto skaters.

–          Frederik Gauthier made his Stanley Cup playoff debut.

–          Auston Matthews won 63 percent (5 won, 3 lost) of his faceoffs when matched up against Boston centre David Krejci.

–          Trevor Moore made his Stanley Cup playoff debut.

–          Morgan Rielly was on the ice for a team-high 26 Toronto shot attempts-for at 5-on-5. He finished the game with a 5-on-5 shot attempt percentage of 48.2 percent (26 for, 28 against). 

–          John Tavares won 71 percent (5 won, 2 lost) of his offensive zone faceoffs.

 

MAPLE LEAFS LEADERS

Shots

6 (Tavares)

Shot Attempts

6 (Four players tied)

Faceoff Wins

16 (Tavares)

Faceoff Win Percentage

67% (Nylander – 4 won, 2 lost)

Hits

4 (Hyman, Johnsson, Moore)

Blocked Shots

3 (Kapanen, Zaitsev)

Takeaways

4 (Marner)

TOI

24:34 (Rielly)

Power Play TOI

1:14 (Marner)

Shorthanded TOI

2:12 (Zaitsev)

Shifts

36 (Rielly)

5-on-5 Shot Attempt Percentage

58.6% (Marner – 17 for, 12 against)

 

 

UPCOMING GAMES:

–       Saturday, April 13, 8 p.m., Toronto at Boston (NBC, CBC, TVA Sports)

–       Monday, April 15, 7 p.m., Boston at Toronto (CBC, TVA Sports, NBCSN)

–       Wednesday, April 17, 7 p.m., Boston at Toronto (CBC, TVA Sports, NBCSN)

–       Friday, April 19, TBD, Toronto at Boston (TBD)*

–       Sunday, April 21, TBD, Boston at Toronto (TBD)*

–       Tuesday, April 23, TBD, Toronto at Boston (TBD)*
*If Necessary

 

POSTGAME QUOTES:

HEAD COACH MIKE BABCOCK

On tonight’s game:

I thought it was a good road game for us. We gave up the first goal there on the penalty kill, we missed an assignment, but I thought prior to that we had played well and then we seemed to get back to it. We had a stretch in the second period where we didn't execute in our own zone at all and then I thought they were pretty good, but other than that we had a pretty good night.

On Andersen’s performance tonight:

I thought he was steady. I thought the guys did a good job in front of him and I thought he was steady. He's a real good goaltender for us, he had stretch there that wasn't quite as good. We're confident and he's confident.

On the team’s ability to hold the lead in the third period:

We talked about it, but just because you talk about it doesn't mean it's going to happen. Like I said to you, I thought our worst stretch there was in the second, we didn't execute there for a while. Then I thought we settled in and played and made some plays.

On how Hyman, Marner and Tavares found success against the Bergeron line:

Tavares is really committed to playing without the puck since he arrived. He's really done a good job for us. Obviously, Hyman and Marner are real good players and hard to play against. Our matchup, we had two of them on the back end, just because we knew they'd play lots. Muzzin and [Zaitsev] are real hard to play against and Hainsey and Rielly move the puck. I thought they did a good job.

FREDERIK ANDERSEN (37 SAVES)

On what led to success defensively tonight:

Just playing pretty structured and play from the inside out, pressure at the right times. I thought we were good at using our speed to make it tough on them. Good first game.

On the play of the Muzzin and Zaitsev pairing:

They were great. They had some good blocks and helped me out like that a couple of times, good talk and good communication with me playing the puck. It makes it easier for everyone. It comes with experience and playing with each other. It was great.

NAZEM KADRI (1 ASSIST)

On tonight's performance:

It's exactly what we wanted. A good start, were able to jump right into the game. The first 10 minutes here we knew how important that was. If we came out even or up one, we knew it was going to be a good finish. Well done for us.

On how they managed to control play early in the game and in the third period:

Just being responsible. I think understanding when and when not to make plays, being smart and reliable with the puck, getting their D to turn and things like that to make it hard on them.

MITCH MARNER (2 GOALS)

On the team's speed and work ethic as keys to victory:

We know we're a fast team in this locker room and I think when we play right it's hard to stop us. Tonight, we just wanted to make sure we were getting pucks in for the first 10 minutes and make it hard on their D. I think we did a great job of that. I thought all four lines played very well tonight with our D corps. Freddie [Andersen], again, he was unbelievable.

On if he knew what he wanted to do on his penalty shot or if it was instinct:

A little bit of both. I kind of had an idea of what I wanted to do. At the last second, I kind of switched it up, seeing where he was and seeing his position. From then on, I was lucky enough I got him and put it in.

AUSTON MATTHEWS (6 SHOT ATTEMPTS)

On tonight’s win:

It's a big road win for us. I thought we really kept our composure after that first goal and we just continued to play our game. I thought we were patient, we were able to kind of turn over some of their pucks and head the other way and had some good opportunity. That first 10 minutes was crucial for us and then I think we really took care of the puck for the most part tonight.

On tonight’s key to creating opportunities and scoring on them:

Well, I think just hitting the net on a lot of it. We battled all night and, obviously, a couple of big goals tonight. Just faceoff plays, guys getting to the net, competing hard. A lot of lines tonight with lots of opportunities. We just want to continue with that momentum.

WILLIAM NYLANDER (1 GOAL)

On his goal:

I've been thinking just to hit the net and get it on net. I just kind of shot it and was lucky it went in.

On the pass from Kadri to send him on the breakaway for his goal:

It was perfect – tape-to-tape, a little sauce, for the breakaway. It was an amazing pass.

On Marner getting a shorthanded goal on one of two early penalty kills:

Mitch [Marner] was huge on the PK there and got the penalty shot and scored a really nice goal. Our PK was good today.

On if he was penalized for retaliating after being hit:

No, I was just trying to get his stick, but I missed it. That happens sometimes.

On earning the win tonight:

I think it's big, winning the first one on the road. We've still got to stay dialed and keep going for Game Two.

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