Riding into Toronto with a three-game losing streak, the Bruins wanted to enter the All-Star break on a positive note, hoping to put an end to their longest losing streak of the season.

When you’re looking to snap a streak such as the one the Bruins were in, usually it’s your big guns that step up and turn the tide in their favor.

For the Bruins, that means David Pastrnak, that means Patrice Bergeron, David Krejci and Brad Marchand. Heck, I’ll even throw in Taylor Hall and Charlie McAvoy.

But in the Bruins 5-2 win over the Maple Leafs on Thursday it was none of the above that provided the Bruins with the offensive output they needed to snap their streak.

It was Derek Forbort, shorthanded. It was Brandon Carlo. It was A.J. Greer and it was Pavel Zacha, twice.

“I think we got back to our identity tonight,” head coach Jim Montgomery said “I think our depth, our d-men, the scoring, our fourth line coming through like they did and Charlie Coyle’s line playing unbelievable. It was fun to watch.”

Failing to put together 60-minute efforts during their three-game skid, the Bruins looked more like themselves Thursday.

In both Maple Leafs goals, the Bruins immediately responded. 3:08 after Mitch Marner tied the game at one, Carlo responded to regain the lead.

Less than a minute after Calle Jarnkrok cut the Bruins lead to one in the third period, Zacha’s first of the night gave the Bruins their two-goal lead back.

The Bruins never allowed the Maple Leafs to carry the momentum.

“We were ready to play a full 60-minutes. We got better as the game went on,” Zacha said. “I think we played really good in the third and we made them defend a lot. We were ready for them and it was a must-win for us before the break.”

Midway through the game, the Bruins Czech line of Zacha, Krejci and Pastrnak were reunited. It immediately paid off for the Bruins.

Zacha enters the break with six goals in his last nine games.

"That was our focus before the game, we don't want to go to the break with a loss especially having [already] lost three in a row on a tough road trip,” Zacha said.

As Linus Ullmark, Pastrnak and Montgomery will head back to Florida for All-Star festivities this weekend, the rest of the team will embark on a 10-day hiatus.

The Bruins return to action on February, 11 when they host the Washington Capitals.

"I told them congrats on a great first half. It's been fun, but I said we have to get better and I know we will get better because of the professionalism and the work ethic that is in that locker room,” said Montgomery.

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