TORONTO — Trailing 2-0 in their Stanley Cup first round matchup against Boston, the Toronto Maple Leafs turned to their veterans, and Patrick Marleau, Tomas Plekanec, James van Riemsdyk and Frederik Andersen all played key roles in the Leafs' 4-2 victory over the Bruins in Game 3 of the best-of-seven series.
While the young core group of Auston Matthews, William Nylander and Mitch Marner contributed to the victory with a goal and three assists between them, it was the Leafs' experienced hands that made the difference and got Toronto back into the series at Air Canada Centre on Monday.
MORE: Andersen stars, Matthews pots game-winner as Leafs take Game 3
Plekanec was acquired from Montreal at the trade deadline to add depth and experience to the Leafs up the middle, but until Monday his contribution was mostly negative. With Nazem Kadri serving the second game of a three-game suspension for hitting Bruins forward Tommy Wingels from behind, the 35-year-old centre took Kadri’s place between in Marleau and Marner and saw the most ice time of any Toronto centre (17:58), mostly against Boston’s top two lines centred by Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci.
“I thought (Plekanec) was outstanding.” Leafs head coach Mike Babcock said after the game. “He played his best game since he’s been here. Maybe just (because of) the fact that he didn’t feel as important as he should have when he got here.”
Marleau scored 27 goals in his first season with Toronto, but after being held scoreless in Boston he rebounded in Game 3 with more energy, more physical play and two goals, including an insurance goal late in the third period.
“I think everyone knows how we need to play to be successful.” Marleau said. “We didn’t (play) our best in Boston and that changed tonight. We got the win, now we have to look forward to next game.”
Patrick Marleau!!
— Flintor (@TheFlintor) April 17, 2018
Leafs go up 4-2! pic.twitter.com/Oy378Lld1z
Van Riemsdyk provided an early spark for the desperate club, scoring a power play goal late in the first period that gave Toronto a lead for the first time.
Andersen was more a victim of the team in front of him in the two lopsided losses at TD Garden and entered the game with the worst goals-against-average (6.65) and second-worst save percentage (.822) of any goalie in the playoffs.The Leafs goalie was not sharp early in the contest, allowing a pair of questionable goals to Adam McQuaid and Zdeno Chara, but with Boston pressing for the tying goal in the third period, Andersen made 18 saves to lead Toronto to victory, including a number of saves on a Bruins power play and an incredible diving stick save on David Pastrnak late in regulation.
“That was one of the best saves I’ve ever seen.” Matthews said. “That was a game changer for sure, because there was still two minutes left and (if he doesn’t make the save) now you're down by one. That was an unbelievable save, it was awesome.”
A key factor in the victory was Toronto was able to completely shut down the line of Brad Marchand, Patrice Bergeron and Pastrnak. In Games 1 and 2, the Bruins top unit compiled 20 points, but they did not score a point on Monday and were on the ice for all three Leafs even-strength goals.
The momentum in the series may have swung in Toronto’s favour with their victory in Game 3, but the Leafs will need more contributions from both young and old to even the series on Thursday.