John Tavares’ three assists helped the Maple Leafs get back in the win column. Toronto defeated the Boston Bruins 4-2 on Tuesday night at the TD Garden.
The Leafs stopped their latest losing streak, with one of their better efforts since the Olympic Break. Toronto had a sustained attack from puck drop and outplayed and outhustled a Bruins team still battling to make the playoffs.
Boston did, however, take an early lead. Elias Lindholm opened the scoring, ripping a feed from Morgan Geekie past Anthony Stolarz at 5:04. Lindholm’s 14th of the season was the only goal of the first period.
Toronto tied things up 7:27 into the second. Matthew Knies made a great individual play shorthanded. The winger deflected a Bruins pass, chased down the puck, then deked out Boston goaltender Jermey Swayman for the equalizer.
Toronto went ahead with a power play goal late in the period. Tavares found Max Domi alone to the side of the Boston net. Domi took the pass, walked in and jammed the puck through Swayman to make it 2-1.
William Nylander extended the lead three minutes into the third period. Bruins’ defenceman Charlie McAvoy upended Tavares with both players sliding toward the Boston net. The distraction was enough to allow Nylander to wrist home a bad-angle shot for his 25th goal of the season and a 3-1 Toronto lead.
McAvoy got one back for Boston, deflecting home a David Pastrnak shot on the power play at 5:08. But that was as close as the Bruins would get.
Knies added an empty-net goal at 19:38 of the third to seal the deal.
Toronto wins 4-2.
Next up, Toronto hosts the New York Rangers on Wednesday at Scotiabank Arena.
