BOSTON—If there was going to be a hero for the Toronto Maple Leafs, it made sense it was going to be Auston Matthews.
He’d scored 69 times in the regular season. But his first goal of the post-season was bigger.
Matthews scored on a breakaway in the third period to break a tie as the Leafs beat the Boston Bruins 3-2 Monday night at the TD Garden to take Game 2 of their best-of-seven Stanley Cup playoffs first-round series.
“He’s just world class, everything he does,” captain John Tavares said of Matthews. “When you see the drive every single day, and the passion for the game, and wanting to be such a difference maker night in and night out.
“At this time of year to have the night like he did was massive for our group. It puts us back on level terms going home, so big win for us and he certainly led the way.”
Tavares and Max Domi also scored — with Matthews picking up assists on both goals — as the Leafs changed the narrative around the series with a split in Boston.
Matthews played a team-high 23:24 and also won 69 per cent of his faceoffs.
“Auston, a goal and two assists and he’s all over the stat sheet tonight in so many regards,” said Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe. “He’s affecting the game positively for us. But to me, just the way he worked. He competed, he was hard. Physical. Winning puck battles all over the ice.”
It was a messy game, with the Leafs making mistakes that led two Boston goals while themselves having a pair of goals nullified on video review.
“I loved our resolve tonight,” said Keefe. “There were things piling up that weren’t really going our way, but the guys stayed with it. Great effort on the road and a really good team win.
Forward pass
When Matthews beat Linus Ullmark with a deke at 12:06 of the third it represented the first time the Maple Leafs had taken a lead over Boston all season. And it was the first win over Boston since Nov. 5, 2022. The Bruins had won eight in a row since, including Game 1 on Saturday.
THROW IT UP TO PAPI AND LET HIM GO GET IT!! 😤😤😤 pic.twitter.com/t5HcFHXy08
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) April 23, 2024
On the winning goal, Domi was more like a quarterback on the play, Matthews the receiver. Domi launched a pass about eight feet over the ice through the neutral zone as it arced down toward Matthews at the Boston blue line. He extended his left hand to coral it down his stick.
“It’s happening so fast, you don’t really have time to think.” said Matthews. “It’s instincts and trying to make the right play, one on one with the goalie. Make a move, or take a shot, and try to find an opening.”
A dipsy-do later – forehand, backhand, forehand — the Leafs had the lead.
“Hell of a goal,” said Tavares. “The goal is one thing, obviously special. Not many guys in the world with those instincts, the hands and the finishing ability. But the competitive aspect, winning battles, fighting for space, using his body, things he does so truly well. And it sets the standard for us.
“Hell of a game by him. Just driving our team.”
History says
With Game 3 on Wednesday in Toronto, things are looking up for the Leafs, but they still have a way to go. A team that has split the first two games on the road has an all-time record 158-196, a .446 winning percentage in best-of-seven series.
“It’s an important time of year for our team,” said Matthews. “These moments obviously are emotional. I’m really happy about the win. Going home spit 1-1, we’ve got to continue to stay focused. “
Samsonov wins
A subplot of each game has been goaltending. It’s generally deemed the Bruins have the best two in the series with Jeremy Swayman and Ullmark. Bruins coach Jim Montgomery is going to hear it from his critics after he switched to Ullmark for Game 2 after Swayman’s terrific Game 1.
Hearing it all is Leafs goalie Ilya Samsonov, who stepped up in Game 2 to keep pace with what was happening in the other end. He stopped 27 of 29 shots, many of the game-saving variety, early in periods, through penalty kills and Boston’s late push with Ullmark pulled.
“I’m just trying to push as hard as I can,” said Samsonov. “And it’s not special, just you need to doing your work, live moment by moment.”
More Leafs
- Max joined his father Tie Domi as the first father-son duo to score a goal in the Stanley Cup playoffs with the Leafs. They are the ninth father-son duo to score for the same team in the playoffs.
- Though William Nylander took part in the morning skate, he did not play, missing his second game in a row with an undisclosed injury.
- Matthews tied a single-game playoff career-high in points with three, which he has marked on four occasions during his career.
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