BOSTON — The Boston Bruins can’t be carried. It’s important for them to play as a team, because they can only win as a team.
They did just that in a 4-3 overtime win over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday night at TD Garden. Nine different players, all forwards, came out of the game with at least one point, as the Bruins attacked the Leafs in waves. It was arguably their most impressive offensive effort of the season top-to-bottom, as they out-shot the Leafs 32-19, including 25-15 at five-on-five.
There was nothing fancy or supernatural about the Bruins’ success. They played with pace, they forechecked, they made good decisions, they stuck to the process. That last part was perhaps most impressive, considering the Bruins fell in an early hole in the second period and had to dig out of it.
“It was nice for the group to get rewarded for playing the right way,” said Brad Marchand. “Sometimes you do it for a period or two, and it doesn’t go the way you want it to, and you start switching up and getting back into bad habits, and we didn’t do that tonight.
“It’s a great way for us to realize that when we play the right way, we’re a good team. It’s a great way to start building our foundation.”
The Bruins also overcame adversity in this game, which they were unable to do so over the course of a three-game skid. They came back from multiple deficits, and responded well in overtime after Toronto tied it with just 1:17 left in regulation.
Third Star: Mark Kastelic
Oct 26, 2024; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Bruins center Mark Kastelic (47) celebrates his goal with teammates on the bench during the second period against the Toronto Maple Leafs at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-Imagn Images
Reunited with Cole Koepke on the right side, Kastelic and the Bruins fourth line got back to the dominating brand of forechecking they’ve ridden to thrilling effect for much of the season so far. Kastelic was the chief beneficiary on Saturday night, scoring the go-ahead goal as part of a 36-second two-score burst in the second period.
With the fourth line on the ice at five-on-five, the Bruins out-shot the Leafs 5-0 and outscored them 1-0. Shot attempts were 9-5 in favor of the B’s, but unblocked shot attempts (Fenwick) were 8-2, as Kastelic blocked two on his own. Kastelic also had a team-high six hits on the night.
Kastelic’s goal was a good-old-fashioned net-crash, as he took advantage from soft coverage by the Leafs and finished a scintillating backhand feed by Johnny Beecher. Just a strong all-around night for the whole line, and Kastelic gets the nod for their efforts.
Second Star: Mitch Marner
Oct 26, 2024; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Toronto Maple Leafs left wing Matthew Knies (23) is congratulated by right wing Mitch Marner (16) and center Auston Matthews (34) after his goal against the Boston Bruins during the second period at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-Imagn Images
Goal-scoring is the name of the game in ice hockey, but Marner on Saturday night reminded the world why an elite playmaker is dangerous with the puck no matter where he is on the ice.
Marner racked up three assists, keeping the Leafs ahead early on and alive late with pinpoint passing to set up his finishers. On the first Leafs goal, Marner didn’t pass but slipped his way through the defense as the Bruins seemed to devote excessive attention to Auston Matthews, then got a shot off that created a rebound for Matthew Knies to finish. For his second assist, he lasered it down low to a pinching Morgan Geekie, who ripped it past Jeremy Swayman from the faceoff circle to give the Leafs their second lead of the game.
For his final trick, Marner appeared to have garnered enough attention from Bruins defenders to take the focus off Matthews. Marner then found Matthews waltzing to the net-front with another pinpoint high-to-low feed, resulting in the game-tying goal with just 1:17 left in regulation.
The Leafs salvaged a point from this game thanks in large part to Marner’s awareness and skill with the puck, so he earned himself a spot among the stars of the night.
First Star: David Pastrnak
Oct 26, 2024; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Bruins right wing David Pastrnak (88) celebrates their overtime win against the Toronto Maple Leafs at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-Imagn Images
Marchand may have finished off the win with his first goal of the season, but the score was possible thanks to his overtime linemate. Pastrnak stayed aware and took advantage of a heinous breakout attempt by Matthews in the Leafs’ zone, then faked the shot for a feed to Marchand that sparked the sequence of rebounds that led to the game-winner.
Pastrnak also scored the Bruins’ first goal of the night with one of his typical power-play rockets from the faceoff circle. No. 88 finished with the second-best on-ice five-on-five shot attempt rate (68.9%) on the team, behind only Koepke’s 72.2%. Pastrnak’s 31 on-ice five-on-five shot attempts were by far the most on the Bruins.
The Bruins need Pastrnak producing, drawing attention, and generally making an impact on a nightly basis. They certainly got enough of that on Saturday.
