Bruins surge past Maple Leafs in Game 2, even Eastern series

BOSTON --Tuukka Rask made 30 saves, and the Boston Bruins defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-1 in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference First Round at TD Garden on Saturday.

The best-of-7 series is tied 1-1. Game 3 is at Toronto on Monday.
"Yeah we had guys dialed in tonight," Bruins forward David Backes said. "I think Game 1 was a slap in the face (4-1 loss), a little wake-up call, and guys responded excellent tonight. Even with some of the shenanigans going on, we were focused on what we needed on our next opportunity."
WATCH: [Maple Leafs vs. Bruins Game 2 highlights | Complete series coverage]
Charlie Coyle gave the Bruins a 1-0 lead at 4:44 of the first period, scoring from the left hash marks after receiving a pass from Backes behind the net.
Brad Marchand made it 2-0 at 16:04 after taking a pass from David Pastrnak on a 2-on-1 and deking Frederik Andersen, who made 37 saves, before scoring five-hole.
"Well you saw at the start, we weren't as good," Maple Leafs coach Mike Babcock said. "I mean, [Thursday] night I thought our intensity was real good at the start of the game.
"Obviously, [Boston's] intensity was a different level, we didn't handle the forecheck and execute. It's nothing that we hadn't talked about or tried to prepare for, but we didn't execute on it."

Danton Heinen extended the lead to 3-0 at 10:39 of the second period following a turnover by Maple Leafs forward William Nylander at the left post.
Nazem Kadri cut the lead to 3-1 at 10:44 of the third period with a redirection in the high slot of Travis Dermott's slap shot from the left point.
"I didn't think we executed as well, weren't as crisp with the puck, and that didn't allow us to generate as much in the forecheck like we did in Game 1," Maple Leafs forward John Tavares said. "We knew they were going to come hard and respond and we just didn't execute at a high enough level. Sometimes that's the way it goes, and you just got to stay with it and find your game. We obviously got one to get back within two (goals), but unfortunately, we ran out of time. We just weren't as good today."

Patrice Bergeron scored a power-play goal from below the right circle after Andersen kicked out a rebound to make it 4-1 at 15:03.
"Yeah, they set the tempo there the first game. They came out hard and played a little more physical than they did in the regular season, and we weren't necessarily prepared for that," Marchand said. "But I think we were tonight, and we saw that things were getting pretty amped up there toward the end of the game and a lot of emotions, and that's what playoff hockey is all about. It's going to happen on both sides. There's going to be a lot of physicality the rest of the series, I think you can expect that from both groups. It's going to be fun and I think that's what we all look forward to."

Kadri received a major penalty and game misconduct for cross-checking Bruins forward Jake DeBrusk with 5:57 left in the third period. He has been offered an in-person hearing with the NHL Department of Player Safety.

They said it

"We'll go home and have an off day, get regrouped, and get back at her. Every game in this series is supposed to get better, it's supposed to get harder, and obviously, we have to elevate our game and response. But the bottom line is whichever team is into the other team's defense is going to have a lot of success." -- Maple Leafs coach Mike Babcock
"Well it was entertaining, I guess. But you know I just try to stay focused on the puck. You know next shot, that's it. I can't just really be a spectator, but you know it was a good pace, lots of hits, hard-fought match." -- Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask

Need to know

Bruins defenseman Torey Krug left the game in the second period with an undisclosed injury. There was no update on his condition. … Bruins defenseman Connor Clifton also left the game in the third period. No update was provided after the game. … Rask earned his 36th Stanley Cup playoff win, tying Andy Moog for second in Bruins history. Gerry Cheevers is first with 53.

What's next

Game 3 of Eastern Conference First Round at Scotiabank Arena on Monday (7 p.m. ET; NBCSN, CBC, TVAS, NESN)