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Leafs play desperate in Game 3 to get back into series; Komarov skates |
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With their backs against the wall, the Toronto Maple Leafs were able to rise to the occasion in a must-win Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinal, showing some physical pushback and taking advantage of their scoring opportunities in a 4-2 win over the Boston Bruins at Air Canada Centre on Monday.
“If we didn't have success last night, I thought we were probably going to be done.” Leafs coach Mike Babcock said via conference call on Tuesday. “I think (winning Game 3) gets us back to playing. So to me, we have a game at home, that's all that really matters and that's what I talked about yesterday. I'm a big believer in the National Hockey League, you win today and everything's okay.”
Unlike their losses in Beantown, the Leafs caught an early break after the Bruins were erroneous penalized for delay-of-game and James van Riemsdyk converted on the ensuing power play scored for the opening goal.
Toronto showed some composure in bouncing back both times Boston tied the game on questionable goals given up by Frederik Andersen. Auston Matthews and William Nylander, who had been held scoreless in the losses at TD Garden, combined for the game-winner late in the second period.
While Mitch Marner and Morgan Rielly had their best games of the series with two assists each the difference was veterans Patrick Marleau, Tyler Bozak, Tomas Plekanec and James van Riemsdyk stepping up and contributing both on the scoreboard and with some harassment of the Bruins defense.
Andersen rose to the occasion with Toronto holding a tenuous one-goal lead in the third, withstanding a furious scramble on a Bruins power play early in the third and making a spectacular stick stop on David Pastrnak late in regulation.
The two clubs have two days in between Games 3 and 4. Babcock gave his troops a day off the ice on Tuesday, but they will have a full practice at the MasterCard Centre on Wednesday.
“Being fresh is important if you want to play the game right, but I think it's early going in the playoffs right now. I don't think it's probably as important as it would be later.” Babcock said. “We're pumped to have the day and then we'll have a real good practice pace and we can get the tempo of our game.”
Winger Leo Komarov did not play in Game 3, but the feisty winger skated at the Leafs practice facility in Etobicoke, ON on Tuesday and will be a game time decision for Game 4 on Thursday.
Andreas Johnsson limped to the Leafs dressing room after being undercut by Boston’s Brad Marchand during a Bruins power play in the third, but the rookie returned later in the period and Babcock indicated that Johnsson was fine.
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