Toronto Maple Leafs Take Game 3 Against Boston Bruins

The Toronto Maple Leafs came on strong to beat the Boston Bruins 4-2 in Game 3 of the series. The game wasn’t without controversy with Boston coach Bruce Cassidy calling for officials to make calls based on facts, not hunches.

Officials handed a 2-minute penalty to Riley Nash, Captain of the Bruins for delaying the game when a puck went over the glass while inside the zone. While reviewing the play, the puck came in contact with the glass prior to going over. Therefore a penalty should have not been called. However, officials made the call and sent Nash to the penalty box with three minutes remaining in the first.

Commenting on the 2-1 lead in the series, Cassidy said,

“I don’t think you can guess and give someone a power play. I’d prefer if they not guess and erred on the side of caution.”

The second period saw Cassidy speaking with officials wanting to have a better understanding why Nash was handed a two-minute penalty.

“My question was: who made the call? There’s no call immediately. When a referee makes a call you kind of live with it because it’s decisive. So now they get together and I assume they want to make the right call, that’s the idea, but to me they got together and clearly they guessed because it hit the glass and we saw that. I think you’re kinda innocent until proven guilty.

Coach Bruce Cassidy further mentioned that if that same had happened to them that one has to be certain to make that call then be sure if on it to come together.

Toronto Maple Leafs

The penalty saw Toronto on a power play and James van Riemsdyk scoring just seven seconds into the penalty to give the Leafs a 1-0 lead. It may have set the tone for the night as this was the first that Toronto scored first in the series after failing to score first in Game 1 of the series, and then Game 2.

Coach Cassidy, while speaking post-game on the goal,

“Certainly not the difference in the game, but you don’t want to play from behind.”

Cassidy added that they capitalized on the play and while we disagreed with it, it does not mean that disagreement won’t end with a goal stating,

“They made a good play, they got on top of the crease and earned it, earned their ice. Give them credit.”

Brad Marchand also commented saying he feels the NHL needs to do more to see officials from making bad calls saying that he feels it was frustrating and tough to see. Marchand earned six points in the first two games of the series but was pointless last night.

Boston’s Adam McQuaid scored at the three-minute mark of the second to tie the game only to see Toronto’s Patrick Marleau made it 2-1 for the Leafs forty-three seconds later.

Auston Matthews and Zdeno Chara also scored one for their respective teams later in the second in what saw the Bruins tie the game again only to see the Leafs respond and regain the lead 3-2.Patrick Marleau scored his second of the night to give the Leafs a 4-2 advantage a that was enough for the win.

Speaking on the Bruins first two games performance, Brad Marchand said,

“First couple games we had a couple bounces go our way, tonight we didn’t. That’s hockey. Hopefully we get a few more next game, but give Toronto credit.”

Boston leads the series 2-1 with Game 4 schedule at the A.C.C this Thursday before returning to Boston for Game 5. The Toronto Maple Leafs have had one of their best seasons this year and with a young team, have the power and skills needed to win games. Last night’s win may be the juice this young team needs to take them to round two of the playoffs.