Boston Bruins Drop Game 2 To Toronto Maple Leafs, 3-2

Morgan Geekie and David Pastrnak scored for the Boston Bruins in Monday’s 3-2 loss at TD Garden.

Linus Ullmark stood in front of the lockers following the Boston Bruins’ 3-2 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs Monday night at TD Garden.

The goaltender – who made 30 saves in his first start of the series – had one message: “The sun will come up tomorrow.”

The Leafs stormed back from a 2-1 first-period deficit to take Game 2 and split the series one apiece. The Bruins were slowed down on transition, missed opportunities to extend their lead and lacked the same urgency from Saturday’s 5-1 win.

“It’s a long series, and now it’s all about recharging,” Ullmark said. “We’re going to Toronto and then duke it out once again.”

Ullmark’s positivity has been a trademark of his mental makeup all season, and is a key message to have in the room during the playoffs while managing emotions – never get too high, never get too low.

Boston didn’t dominate, but it wasn’t wholly outplayed. Now, the Bruins must get back to their details as the series swings to Scotiabank Arena on Wednesday.

“They’re a good hockey team, we’re a good hockey team,” Bruins coach Jim Montogmery said. “It’s the playoffs. They improved from Game 1 to Game 2, we didn’t improve enough.”

The Bruins capitalized on their first power play of the night while Jake McCabe sat for cross-checking a 9:52 of the opening frame. Morgan Geekie one-timed a cross-crease pass from Brad Marchand past Ilya Samsonov for the 1-0 lead 10:18. Jake DeBrusk’s secondary assist on the play marked his fourth point of the series after logging just one point in his last 10 regular season games.

Toronto was quick to respond. A net-front Max Domi knocked home the rebound of Auston Matthews’ shot from the high slot just 14 seconds later to knot things 1-1. The Leafs controlled play for significant portions of the first, and did a good job clogging up center ice and stifling the Bruins’ rush game.

“Especially through the neutral zone, I think we have to be a little bit smarter with playing simple and getting it in and playing to our strengths,” Pavel Zacha said.

However, David Pastrnak tilted the ice with eight seconds remaining in the period. Geekie won the offensive-zone draw which led to Zacha collecting the puck along the boards. The center backhanded it to Pastrnak between the hash marks who ripped it into the net for the 2-1 lift heading into the second period. Charlie McAvoy picked up his third assist in two games on the scoring play.

Matt Grzelcyk was sent to the box for interference at 16:52 of the middle stanza, and while Tyler Bertuzzi’s power play goal was called back for a high stick, John Tavares made good on the man advantage moments later. The Leafs’ captain blasted the puck past Ullmark from the left circle to make it 2-2 at 18:26.

“I don’t think we played nowhere near as good as we can – that’s not just saying this after a loss, that’s after Game 1,” Pastrnak said. “We have some work to do. Get some sleep tonight and get back to work tomorrow.”

Matthews notched his third point of the night and the Leafs’ first lead of the series at 12:06 of the third period. The pivot got behind McAvoy at the offensive blue line, broke to the net and roofed it over Ullmark’s shoulder for the 3-2 scoreline.

The Bruins played with five defensemen for nearly half the game after Andrew Peeke headed to the room with around seven minutes to play in the second period and didn’t return for the third. Montgomery said he didn’t have an update on Peeke – the team will know more Tuesday.

Game 3 is set for 7 p.m. Wednesday at Scotiabank Arena.

“It’s a series,” Montgomery said.