BOSTON – Brad Marchand’s first goal of the season was a big one.
The Bruins captain backhand-scooped the puck off of Anthony Stolarz, 2 minutes, 26 seconds into overtime to give Boston a 4-3 win over their rivals on Saturday at TD Garden.
With 1:38 left in the game and the Bruins up by a goal, Boston had the puck with a chance to seal the game in regulation, but Pavel Zacha was offsides on the play. Moments later Auston Matthews tipped the puck past Jeremy Swayman to force overtime.
But the Bruins had a resilience that’s been missing this season and bounced back in overtime.
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Boston hosts the Flyers on Tuesday.
The Bruins had good jump in their legs early and outshot Toronto 10-5, but had nothing to show for it after a scoreless first period.
The Leafs landed the first blow early in the second when Matthew Knies beat Jeremy Swayman through traffic, 35 seconds into the second period. But the Bruins answered as sharp power play puck movement landed the puck on David Pastrnak’s stick in the left wing dot. He one-timed it by Anthony Stolarz for his sixth goal in nine games.
Toronto used the extra ice created on a 4-on-4 when Morgan Rielly one-timed Mitch Marner’s pass to the slot by Swayman to make it 2-1 with 12:16 left in the second.
The Bruins scored two goals in less than a minute to take a 3-2 lead after two. Anthony Stolarz stopped Matt Poitras’ initial shot and Trent Frederic’s rebound, but Justin Brazeau banged in try No. 3 for his second goal in as many games.
Just 36 seconds later Johnny Beecher slid the puck through the crease to Mark Kastelic who tapped it by Stolarz with 6:46 left in the second.
Swayman made 20 saves in the win.
Bruins’ special teams improve — The Bruins gave themselves a lift in the first period killing a 32-second 5-on-3 helped by Swayman saves on Austin Matthews and William Nylander.
The Boston power play looked as sharp as it has all season in the second when crisp puck movement culminated in Marchand setting up Pastrnak’s one-timer goal.
The Leafs scored their second goal on a 4-on-4.
The Bruins were 1-for-5 on the power play and killed all three penalties.
Boston dodges a bullet — When David Pastrnak lay on the ice facedown after a collision in the second period, the TD Garden crowd held its breath. Replay showed he’d been high-sticked in the face by William Nylander. But the Bruins star got up and skated off without attention and returned for the ensuing, four-minute power play.
Boston draws even in overtime — The Bruins improved to 1-1 in overtime this season after falling to Utah in the three-on-three.
