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Boston Bruins

Boston Bruins

Boston Bruins

Bruins pull away from Maple Leafs for 4-1 home win

By Matt Dolloff
Mar 7, 2024; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Bruins defenseman Brandon Carlo (25) celebrates his goal with teammates at the bench during the second period against the Toronto Maple Leafs at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports

If this was a playoff preview, Boston Bruins and Toronto Maple Leafs fans are in for some fun.

The Bruins came away with a 4-1 win over the Leafs on Thursday night at TD Garden, in an eventful affair that was often physical, with tempers flaring on multiple occasions. On the scoreboard, the B’s were clinging to a 2-1 lead in the second period, before a quick two-goal burst in a span of 67 seconds blew it open. Boston never looked back from there.

The game was chippy from the early-going, and turned into a penalty bonanza. Both teams added up to 50 total penalty minutes on the night. The Bruins made the most of it with two power play goals in five opportunities, while the Leafs scored their lone goal on the man advantage.

Bruins goaltender Jeremy Swayman stopped 28-of-29 shots (.966) for his third straight win and 21st on the season.

Read more for a recap of the game’s top highlights.

Bruins strike first

The Bruins scored the game’s first goal after gaining a two-man advantage. Leafs defenseman Jake McCabe committed a delayed penalty after checking Jake DeBrusk up high, then knocked Brad Marchand after the whistle to earn his team more penalty time. Matthew Knies ended up taking the second call for roughing during the ensuing scrum, to give the Bruins the 5-on-3.

Near the end of the power play, the Bruins cashed in on the golden opportunity. Marchand, DeBrusk, and Pastrnak played a variation of Tic-Tac-Toe ending with Pastrnak’s blast from the bottom of the faceoff circle, making it 1-0 Bruins.

  • Frederic makes it 2-0

    Frederic hadn’t scored since Feb. 21 against the Oilers. His goal in this game was pretty much an individual effort. Frederic’s pressure helped force a turnover by the Leafs’ William Nylander, which instantly became a breakaway for him.

    The winger then finished his shot through Leafs goaltender Joseph Woll for his 17th goal, which ties his career high.

  • Leafs cut Bruins’ lead to 2-1

    Just a few minutes later in the second period, the Bruins got caught napping a little bit. Leafs winger Mitch Marner came onto the ice off a line change, just as the B’s were rushing through the neutral zone. Danton Heinen’s ill-timed turnover at the attacking blue line turned into a bank pass going the other way to Marner, who beat Swayman blocker-side to cut his team’s deficit in half.

    Less than a minute after the Marner goal, the Bruins’ Parker Wotherspoon and the Maple Leafs’ Tyler Bertuzzi engaged in some good-old-fashioned fisticuffs. Score the bout a unanimous decision for Bertuzzi.

  • Bruins break it open

    In a span of just 67 seconds late in the second period, the Bruins turned a close battle into a breeze. First, a John Tavares high-stick on Mason Lohrei led to a power play opportunity, and Morgan Geekie made him pay with a power play goal, his 15th of the season and fifth in as many games.

    Brandon Carlo quickly made it 4-1 with a simple wrist shot from the point, which found its way through all the traffic and in. The goal was Carlo’s first since Jan. 20 and first point since Jan. 27.

  • (Click here to subscribe to the Sports Hub Underground podcast.)

    Up Next: The Bruins will play the Pittsburgh Penguins next, in a Saturday matinee set for 3 p.m. ET.

    Get complete Boston Bruins coverage at 985TheSportsHub.com.

    Matt Dolloff is a writer and podcaster for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Check out all of Matt’s content.

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