Matthews scores winner in third, Maple Leafs defeat Bruins 3-2 to even series 1-1

Auston Matthews scored the game-winning goal in the third period and added two assists as the Toronto Maple Leafs beat the Boston Bruins 3-2 on Monday to tie their first-round playoff series at 1-1.

The star center took a lofted pass from Max Domi and got close alone to Linus Ullmark before making a right-footed move with 7:54 left in regulation to give the Leafs their first lead against the Bruins in the last six games. including four. in the regular season.

The goal was Matthews’ first playoff goal in his last seven games.

Domi and John Tavares scored Toronto’s other goals. Ilya Samsonov saved 27 times.

The Leafs were without star winger William Nylander for the second straight game due to an undisclosed injury after dressing for all 82 regular-season games.

David Pastrnak and Morgan Geekie responded for Boston. Ullmark stopped 30 shots for the Bruins, who defeated the Leafs 5-1 in Saturday’s opener with Jeremy Swayman in net.

Game three of the best-of-seven series begins Wednesday in Toronto. Teams will then have two days off before Game 4 on Saturday.

The Leafs beat the Bruins for the first time in nine games, a span of more than 530 days, dating back to November 2022.

After Matthews gave Toronto the lead, Boston went on a power play with six minutes left on the clock, but the Bruins never really threatened Samsonov before the puck went out in a crazy scramble in the team’s box. visitors which included Matthews denying a chance in the final. minute.

Boston, which beat Toronto in the first round in 2013, 2018 and 2019, opened the scoring at 10:18 of the first period when Geekie finished off a nice sequence with Brad Marchand and Jake DeBrusk after Leafs defenseman Jake McCabe, made an undisciplined cross. control penalty.

Toronto fell back just 14 seconds later.

Matthews fired off the crossbar and Domi, who took a bad penalty Saturday that led to the Bruins’ goal, buried the rebound on his second effort before making an emphatic gesture to the celebrating TD Garden crowd.

The Leafs got their first power play and Matthews, who scored 69 goals in the regular season, had another good chance that Ullmark stopped with his right pad.

The visitors were in good form and poised to go level at half-time when disaster struck.

Samsonov botched an easy shot which led to Charlie Coyle firing from the side of the goalkeeper’s mask. After a delay to repair some equipment, Tavares lost the offensive zone faceoff and Mitch Marner fell asleep in coverage, allowing Pastrnak to one-time a sweet pass from Pavel Zacha with 7.8 seconds left in the game. the watch.

Ullmark, who started despite Swayman’s 35-save performance in Game 1 to continue Boston’s area rotation, made an excellent glove stop on Calle Jarnkrok in the second that was confirmed after video review to make sure the goalkeeper’s left hand didn’t cross the line. line.

Tyler Bertuzzi, a trade deadline acquisition from Boston last spring before signing with Toronto, appeared to tie the game 2-2 on a power play late in the period, but the call was reversed following another review after who was deemed to have hit the puck. inside with a high stick.

But the Leafs still had nearly two minutes left with that man advantage and they got their revenge when Tavares, who took the penalty, took a pass from Matthews in the slot and fired past Ullmark’s blocker as Toronto’s power play finally He connected on his sixth chance of the series. .

Samsonov made a great stop in the stretch early in the third on a Marchand chance before Ullmark robbed Nick Robertson, again in Nylander’s lineup, at the other end with the glove before Matthews provided the margin of the victory.

NYLANDER SKATES

The talented winger sat out again despite participating in Toronto’s morning skate. Nylander did not join in on line runs and was not included in power play drills.

Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe, who had previously said there would be no injury updates, left the door open for the Swede to play, but all signs pointed to him watching from the press box.

GOALKEEPER CHEAP

Bruins head coach Jim Montgomery continued to play coy with his goalie choice before the game and had some fun with reporters.

“Do you guys play Wordle?” he said Monday morning about the popular game. “Tonight’s goalkeeper has two vowels in his first and last name.”