Causeway Crowd
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Boston Bruins: Outplayed and Misfortune in Toronto

By Conor Peniston-Bird

TORONTO, ON - FEBRUARY 24: Boston Bruins defenseman Matt Grzelcyk (48) and Toronto Maple Leafs center Nazem Kadri (43) collide along the side boards. Toronto Maple Leafs VS New Jersey Devils during 3rd period action in NHL regular season play at the Air Canada Centre. Leafs won 4-3 on a Ron Hainsey goal late in the game. Toronto Star/Rick Madonik (Rick Madonik/Toronto Star via Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - FEBRUARY 24: Boston Bruins defenseman Matt Grzelcyk (48) and Toronto Maple Leafs center Nazem Kadri (43) collide along the side boards. Toronto Maple Leafs VS New Jersey Devils during 3rd period action in NHL regular season play at the Air Canada Centre. Leafs won 4-3 on a Ron Hainsey goal late in the game. Toronto Star/Rick Madonik (Rick Madonik/Toronto Star via Getty Images) /
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The Boston Bruins marched into Toronto Saturday night looking to extend their new win streak to three games. Kevan Miller slotted back into the third-pairing at the expense of Adam McQuaid. Auston Matthews missed this tilt with a shoulder injury he suffered against the Islanders.

First Period

A thoroughly entertaining first-period with both teams shooting out of a cannon. Brad Marchand would open up the Boston Bruins account in The Six with a deflected wrister that beat Andersen up high. The mercurial winger has struggled to find top-gear since his suspension but certainly put any doubts to rest during the first.

Mitch Marner would reply just a minute later off of a feed from William Nylander on the Leafs power play. An outstreching Tuukka Rask almost getting a piece of the quick shot. Nazem Kadri inflicted further pain on the Bruins who were looking a little stretched at this stage of the first.

Brad Marchand wasn’t finished. Great work down low by the Bruins, Marchand fed by Pastrnak and Bergeron somehow dished it over Andersen’s shoulder from about a yard in front. Bruins tied the game and began to increase the pressure.

Kevan Miller and Matt Grzelcyk looked impressive in the first, 69.23 and 66.67 CF% respectively. Carlo and Krug were shaky in the first frame, raising more questions about the second pairing.

The Bruins outshot the Maple Leafs 15-12 in the first frame.

Second Period

Second period and the second line hums once more. Jake DeBrusk with a redirection off of a lateral feed from Ryan Spooner. Great work from McAvoy and Chara transitioning from defence to offense in a flash.

The Bruins were utterly outplayed throughout the second and were lucky to head into the locker room level. Boston had just two goals in the period which is unacceptable against this Leafs suspect blue-line and lack of Auston Matthews.

Boston Bruins
TORONTO, ON – FEBRUARY 24: Boston Bruins Defenceman Zdeno Chara (33) and Toronto Maple Leafs Left Wing Zach Hyman (11) watch the puck go into the net shot by Toronto Maple Leafs Defenceman Ron Hainsey (2) in the third period during the regular season NHL game between the Boston Bruins and the Toronto Maple Leafs on February 24, 2018 at Air Canada Centre in Toronto, ON. (Photo by Jeff Chevrier/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Brandon Carlo had another woeful period. Being on the ice for all three goals concede and being sent for a hotdog by Kasperi Kapanen. The third-pairing should be swapped with the second in terms of ice-time, Krug and Carlo have too many glaring weaknesses in their game and as a pair.

The Bruins were outshot 16-2 in the second, miraculously keeping the game level.

Third Period

After being relatively dismantled in the second period. The Boston Bruins came out stronger in the third. A period in which both teams were going at it evenly.

The Bruins were, let’s not beat around the bush here, robbed by a lack of goalie interference call right at the death. The lack of consistency in this area has been a plague on the league this season and needs rectifying. It’s all well and good costing two points now but what if that decides a Game 7 of a playoff series.

Even Toronto’s media was expecting the call to come back as were fans on twitter. Zach Hyman clearer pushes McAvoy into Rask impeding his ability to make a save.

Final Thoughts

More from Causeway Crowd

As frustrating as the call was I personally don’t think that the Boston Bruins deserved to win the game. The second period was a shambles by the Bruins standards this season. Brandon Carlo has been rife for my criticism in this piece and rightfully so. Finishing the game with 21.05 CF% at even strength and14.29 CF% in all situations on the ice. Not to mention that he was on the ice for three f the goals the Bruins conceded. The second pairing of Krug and Carlo is causing some alarm bells for me.

Kevan Miller showed promise on his return to the lineup finishing with a plus-two and a third-best corsi for of 47.06% alongside logging 19:40.

A tough 4-3 loss to stomach in the cruelest of circumstances.

Bruins move on to face the Buffalo Sabres on Sunday and will be looking to bounce back with a win.

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