Auston Matthews scores league-leading 49th, Leafs beat Bruins

Auston Matthews scored his league-leading forty ninth aim and had an help because the Toronto Maple Leafs ended Boston’s four-game successful streak with a 6-4 victory on Tuesday night time.

Matthews’ aim late within the second interval was the fourth of 5 straight scored by the Maple Leafs, who held a 6-1 lead and flustered the Bruins right into a string of retaliatory hits and penalties.

“I simply thought we didn’t give them so much,” Toronto coach Sheldon Keefe mentioned. “We managed a few the robust pushes that that they had, however in any other case an actual affected person sport and we took benefit of the alternatives that we had.”

Colin Blackwell scored his first aim since becoming a member of Toronto in a commerce on the deadline. Morgan Rielly, Alexander Kerfoot and Mitchell Marner every had a aim and an help.

John Tavares added two assists and Erik Kallgren had 23 saves after coming into within the first interval, changing Petr Mrazek, who left with a groin harm. The Leafs additionally misplaced a pair of defensemen to accidents, however had greater than sufficient offense earlier than the Bruins lower the margin.

“I didn’t assume it was overly chippy, to be trustworthy with you. There was no fights or something like that,” Rielly mentioned. “General, the workforce did a very good job of staying targeted on the end result of the sport. We protected one another after we needed to, however I don’t assume it was uncontrolled by any means.”

David Pastrnak scored his thirty eighth aim for Boston. Jake DeBrusk, Curtis Lazar, Taylor Corridor additionally scored for the Bruins, who couldn’t sustain with the speedy Maple Leafs.

Jeremy Swayman allowed six targets on 25 pictures earlier than being changed by Linus Ullmark at first of the third interval.

The sport was shut early as Blackwell and Pastrnak scored lower than a minute aside. However the 1-1 tie lasted just a few minutes earlier than Rielly scored and the Leafs broke open the sport and received for the third time in 4 video games for the reason that commerce deadline.

Boston coach Bruce Cassidy mentioned the Bruins weren’t sharp early and appeared unprepared for Matthews and the speedy Leafs.

“If all these issues don’t occur, you want your goaltender to bail you out then and that didn’t occur, both,” Cassidy mentioned. “Give them credit score for beginning on time and that’s the place the sport bought away from us and we chased it — robust workforce to chase the sport towards.”

Kerfoot scored on a breakaway with 1:16 left within the first interval, and the Leafs added three extra targets within the second earlier than DeBrusk’s aim lower the result in 6-2 late within the body.

The Bruins’ frustrations had already boiled over, including to the Leafs’ lead after Taylor Corridor knocked Toronto defenseman Lya Lyubushkin out of the sport with a punch, retaliating for what Corridor felt was a success from behind.

The roughing penalty led to Matthews’ aim with 4 minutes left within the second and David Kampf struck once more for the Leafs simply 47 seconds later. Kerfoot picked up an help on the aim and was leveled by Connor Clifton properly after the play as he skated to rejoice along with his teammates.

The Bruins did make it attention-grabbing when Corridor scored with 2:22 remaining on a aim that was initially disallowed till replays confirmed the puck bought by Kallgren’s pads.

“It sort of feels like slightly little bit of a blur,” Boston defenseman Charlie McAvoy mentioned. “We’ll return and take a look at it, however you’ll be able to’t give a workforce like that alternatives. They’ve numerous talent they usually can capitalize. The self-inflicted stuff is the place you’ve bought to restrict it.”

FIRST TO 50?

Matthews entered the sport tied with Edmonton’s Leon Draisaitl for the NHL lead with 48 targets. Now only one away from reaching the 50-goal milestone, Keefe mentioned he expects Matthews to stay low key and never be distracted by the scoring race because the playoffs strategy.

“He’s proper there, clearly. If I do know Auston, he’s simply going to proceed to play and never get too targeted on anything. He’s too good for the possibilities and the targets to not proceed to come back,” Keefe mentioned.

NOTES: The Leafs mentioned Mrazek left the sport with a groin harm, which might maintain him out some time as their high goalie Jack Campbell continues to get well from a rib harm that’s saved him out for a number of weeks. … Blackwell was enjoying in his fourth sport for the reason that Leafs acquired him and D Mark Giordano from the enlargement Kraken in alternate for 3 draft picks. … Toronto D Justin Holl didn’t return after a shot by Derek Forbort hit him within the helmet in entrance of the Leafs’ web. … Boston’s Brad Marchand acquired a 10-minute misconduct penalty after the second interval.

UP NEXT

Maple Leafs: Host Winnipeg on Thursday night time.

Bruins: Host New Jersey on Thursday night time.