Bruins blow multiple leads in 5-4 overtime loss to Leafs
The Maple Leafs’ Mitch Marner scored twice, including the game-winner, as the Boston Bruins blew leads of 3-0 and 4-3 en route to a 5-4 overtime loss on Tuesday night at TD Garden.
Boston initially built a 3-0 lead before Toronto started to chip away. An Oliver Wahlstrom penalty late in the second period allowed Toronto to make it a one-goal game, before tying it later in the third. David Pastrnak scored the go-ahead goal, his second of the game, in the final period, but the B’s allowed the tying score with just 46 seconds left in regulation to set the stage for their overtime defeat.
The Bruins drew first blood, and about as early in the game as one can expect. Just as some were still settling into their seats and our ears had stopped buzzing from another thunderous national anthem by Todd Angilly, Mason Lohrei hit Pastrnak with a stretch pass to set up a breakaway. Pastrnak finished past Leafs goaltender Anthony Stolarz just 29 seconds into the game to put the Bruins on top 1-0.
Later in the first, Bruins captain Brad Marchand drew a tripping penalty, then made the Leafs pay for it on the power play. The puck pinballed off multiple Leafs and right to Marchand’s stick, and No. 63 smashed it through to make it a 2-0 game.
The B’s extended their lead to 3-0 in the second period, when Morgan Geekie fired home his 19th goal of the season, also on a power play. He’s now on pace for 27 goals in 77 games. The Leafs finally got on the board later in the second, when defenseman Morgan Rielly ripped a wrister past B’s goaltender Jeremy Swayman to cut their deficit to 3-1.
Marner cut it down to 3-2 just 59 seconds into the third period, after a slick dangle and a rocket through a mini-screen. Nick Robertson then scored the tying goal less than six minutes later.
Pastrnak’s go-ahead goal at the 10:33 mark of the third period came on a short-side wrister that bounced off Stolarz and in. Pontus Holmberg’s tying goal was a similar play, as gathered a loose puck with his skate and bashed it past Swayman at the doorstep.
For the game-winner, Marner took advantage of the wide-open ice and a turnover, and beat Swayman on a breakaway of his own to lift the Leafs to victory.
Up Next: The Bruins will again try to right the ship on Thursday night at TD Garden, when they welcome the New York Islanders.
Matt Dolloff is a writer and digital content producer for 98.5 The Sports Hub. Read all of his articles here.
