DENVER (AP) Nathan MacKinnon scored twice, including one as part of a three-goal first period and another to chase Nashville goalie Pekka Rinne from the game, and Colorado pulled to 2-1 in the first-round series.
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Everything bounced the Bruins’ way at the Garden.
Jack Edwards was not happy with the referees in Game 3 between the Bruins and Leafs.
Devils 5, Lightning 2: With New Jersey’s first playoff appearance since 2012 starting to look like an early exit, Taylor Hall came up big – just like he has done all season. By comparison, Boston’s top line is outscoring the Maple Leafs’ top line by 18 points and unless Matthews and Nylander can find their game in Toronto this series might not make it back to Boston. Many of their impressive come-from-behind wins came after allowing the game’s first goal. And when they win, as they did in Game 3 Tuesday night, they are putting those lessons to practical use.
Riley Nash returned to the Bruins’ lineup after missing the first two games of the series recovering from an ear laceration. 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. But they need to be mindful of a Leafs winger drifting alone in the neutral zone when that happens.
Bergeron and Brad Marchand had four assists apiece, Torey Krug had three, and Tuukka Rask stopped 30 shots for Boston. “Frustrating but we will move on”. To me we have a game at home, that’s all that really matters.
“(Let’s) get a couple wins without him, then welcome him back”, said Jake Gardiner, optimistically.
There’s not a lot the Bruins need to clean up before Game 4. The Leafs knew Boston’s top line would be hard to stop, but have been blindsided by its talent all series.
As Andersen goes, so do the Leafs.
The Bruins’ power play – a ridiculous 5 for 10 in the series coming in – got its first opportunity early in the third only to see Pastrnak hit the post.
This was a “do-or-die” game for the blue and white, and they headed into the matchup down several key players.
The Toronto Maple Leafs can get right back in this series with a victory here, tying things up at 2-2. This now gets us back to playing. We talked about Auston [Matthews] and Freddie is one of those guys that has to feel like he’s back.
“We’re pumped to have the day to rest”. You knew it was going to be in the air, but he’s good enough that he can pick it up.
One – and perhaps the most important – caveat of home ice is having the last change.
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Toronto will look to even the series here in Game 4 on Thursday night. But the Maple Leafs have found a way all season at home, and I don’t like to bet against them in these spots. Andersen kept the B’s at bay amid a flurry of late scoring chances, while the Bruins also simply couldn’t finish on a handful of open looks at the net. The tie was short-lived as Marleau directed a well-placed pass from Mitch Marner past Rask to restore Toronto’s one-goal lead with 16:11 remaining. “In saying that, the Bruins have done a pretty good job against us and we haven’t had as much success at that as we normally have”.
