NHL playoffs 2018: Andersen stars, Matthews pots game-winner as Maple Leafs take Game 3

Rudi Schuller

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NHL playoffs 2018: Andersen stars, Matthews pots game-winner as Maple Leafs take Game 3 image

The talking points surrounding the Maple Leafs ahead of their crucial Game 3 match-up with the Boston Bruins on Monday focused on Toronto needing to stop giving up so many penalties, needing to get better play from goaltender Frederik Andersen, and needing young star Auston Matthews to snap out of his playoff drought.

All three needs were addressed on Monday as Toronto looked convincing in a 4-2 victory at Air Canada Centre.

The Bruins had run all over the Maple Leafs in Games 1 and 2 in Boston, benefiting from a feeble Toronto penalty kill and some shaky netminding from Andersen. With the series shifting to Toronto for Game 3, it was obvious where the Leafs' overall play could be improved, but the lingering question was whether the team could do so in the face of a 2-0 series hole.

MORE: Maple Leafs turn to veterans in crucial Game 3 victory over Bruins

Led by a pair of goals by Patrick Marleau, an opportunistic tally by James van Riemsdyk, and a game-winner from a charged up Matthews, Toronto answered the critics for at least one night.

However, it was the play of netminder Andersen that really stood out, as he turned away 40 of 42 Boston shots and came up huge at times when it appeared that the momentum was shifting in the Bruins' favour. The 28-year-old had some shaky moments, most notably on Zdeno Chara's second-period goal from a near-impossible angle that knotted the game at 2-2, but his work in the third period kept his team in front while the Leafs searched for an insurance marker.

Most notably, Andersen made an incredible stick save with just over two minutes remaining after the Bruins had pulled their own goaltender to bring on an extra attacker.

Andersen's stop kept a surefire goal off the scoreboard, and all but sealed Toronto's first win in the 2017-18 postseason.

The Maple Leafs will have a shot at tying up the series on Thursday, when the two teams meet for Game 4 in Toronto. 

Sporting News provided live updates of the action on Monday night. Check out the by-the-minute updates below:

Maple Leafs 4, Bruins 2

Third Period

0:00 - The horn sounds, and this one is over! Toronto claims the much-needed Game 3 victory and the series is now 2-1 for the Bruins.

0:43.3 - Boston takes a timeout. The Bruins need two, and they've had plenty of opportunities all night so nothing is decided yet.

2:14 - What a save by Andersen!

2:33 - Rask vacates the Boston net and the Bruins will play with the extra attacker.

3:35 - TORONTO SCORES! Marleau drive in from the red line and puts a shot underneath Rask's glove. The Leafs' veteran did well to freeze Boston's goalie before the shot. 4-2 Toronto.

5:57 - Leafs are doing well to keep the Bruins from building up too much sustained pressure. Lots of nervous moments ahead for the Air Canada Centre faithful.

8:41 - McQuaid takes a puck to the neck and is slow to get up. Ouch!

10:12 - Toronto comes close to doubling its lead, but van Riemsdyk can't get to the loos puck in front of the Boston net. This game is being played on a knife's edge right now, but it's highly entertaining.

13:20 - Looks like Johnsson is OK.

17:34 - Marleau steps out of the penalty box and the Leafs have survived the Boston power play.

18:42 - Johnsson is slow to get up after getting tangled up with Marchand.

19:34 - Toronto penalty. Marleau upends Marchand in front of the Leafs' net and he heads to the box on a hooking call.

20:00 - And we're back for (possibly) the final 20 minutes.

Second Period

0:00 - And that's that for the period. Toronto leads 3-2.

0:01.2 - The puck goes over the boards after the horn sounded, but the officials determined that there was still time left to play.

4:45 - The crowd is firmly behind Matthews.

5:13 - TORONTO SCORES! Auston Matthews finally gets on the board in the series with a nice wrister over Rask. Toronto leads 3-2.

7:39 - DING! Kapanen breaks free along the right side and wires a wrist shot off the far post.

10:02 - Chara is putting in work in this period.

13:42 - BOSTON SCORES! The floodgates have opened now. Chara pots one off Andersen's back, and it's all even. 2-2 game.

16:11 - TORONTO SCORES! The Leafs retake the lead after Marleau taps in a nice pass from Marner. 2-1 Toronto.

16:54 - BOSTON SCORES! It's a tie game after McQuaid's low drive squeaks past Andersen. 1-1 game.

18:30 - Andersen makes a huge save on Krejci after a Leafs turnover. That seemed to be a surefire goal for the Bruins.

20:00 - And we're back!

First period

0:00 - The period comes to a close with Toronto up 1-0. To say that was the best period of the series for the Maple Leafs is an understatement.

2:00 - That's one streak the Leafs will be happy to see over with.

2:55 - TORONTO SCORES! The Leafs waste little time in taking advantage of the power play. Van Riemsdyk scores seven seconds after the penalty call. Toronto leads 1-0.

3:02 - The game's first penalty goes to the Bruins. Riley Nash lifts the puck over the boards and it's a delay of game.

3:28 - Kapanen gets free on the right wing and flies down the ice. Rask comes up big in stopping the breakaway.

3:51 - Not a whole lot separating these teams right now. The pace has slowed down, significantly.

7:25 - Brad Marchand gets upended in the middle of the ice and the crowd absolutely loves it. It's fair to say the Bruins' forward is not will liked at the Air Canada Centre.

7:40 - Best save of the night so far, by Rask.

7:52 - This game is flying by. No penalties to either team yet, either.

11:04 - The Bruins are having lots of success going right down the middle of the ice. It's something Toronto will need to adjust, or eventually pay the consequences.

11:40 - Boston registers its second shot of the night. The Leafs have six.

14:00 - Seems like a good strategy...

17:00 - A lively, but nervy, start for the home team.

20:00 - And we're underway!

Pre-game

7:07 p.m. - This is a pretty good rendition of the anthem.

7:05 p.m. - A loud "Go Leafs Go" chant greets the players as they take the ice ahead of puck drop.

6:50 p.m. - And here are the lineups...

6:41 p.m. - One of the coolest fan experiences in North American sport is unfortunately closed due to the terrible weather in Toronto. The NBA's Raptors had to close it over the weekend, as well.

6:34 p.m. -  Both coaches go back to the same starting goaltenders as the first two games. It'll be interesting to see how Andersen rebounds after a rough Game 2.

6:30 p.m. - The Toronto Maple Leafs are in desperate need of a win.

After getting dominated for two games in Boston by the Bruins, the series shifts to Toronto with the Maple Leafs looking to avoiding going 3-0 down in the first round match-up.

The Leafs will be looking to keep the high-powered Bruins first line off the board while also sparking their own offence, which has sputtered in the first two games of the postseason.

Sporting News will keep you up to date on all the action. The puck drops shortly after 7 p.m. ET.

Rudi Schuller