Maple Leafs edge Bruins in Game 5, push them to brink

BOSTON -- The Toronto Maple Leafs scored twice in the third period and held on for a 2-1 win against the Boston Bruins in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference First Round at TD Garden on Friday.

The Maple Leafs lead the best-of-7 series 3-2 with Game 6 at Toronto on Sunday. They have not advanced to the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs since 2004, when they defeated the Ottawa Senators in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals.
"We have to regroup, move on and get ready for Game 6 on Sunday," said Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews, who scored his fourth goal of the series, all in the past three games. "We have an opportunity to close out the series in our rink. We're excited. We have to be ready to go, and we know the atmosphere is going to be amazing there. So we're looking forward to it."
WATCH: [All Maple Leafs vs. Bruins Game 5 highlights | Complete series coverage]
Matthews scored at 11:33 to give Toronto a 1-0 lead. Jake Muzzin faked a slap shot from the left point and passed to Matthews for a one-timer from the right face-off circle.
The Bruins challenged for goaltender interference because of contact between Maple Leafs forward Zach Hyman and Tuukka Rask, but the goal call was upheld.
"I didn't watch it," Hyman said of the replay. "I didn't want to watch it. I'm just glad it counted."
Kasperi Kapanen extended the lead to 2-0 at 13:45. Morgan Rielly led a 3-on-2 rush and passed to Andreas Johnsson, who fed Kapanen for a wrist shot.

With Rask pulled for an extra attacker, David Krejci made it 2-1 with 44 seconds left, on a one-timer from the bottom of the left circle. The Maple Leafs challenged for offside, but the goal call stood.
"We've had better games," Bruins forward Brad Marchand said. "I don't think either team was great, but it was the difference of one play. [The] game is over now, worry about the next one."
Frederik Andersen made 28 saves for Toronto; Rask made 25.

They said it

"This was his best 200-footer of the playoffs. He was outstanding, he was involved in so many breakouts, he was there available for the D. ... I thought he played great. I was impressed and I'm proud for him." -- Maple Leafs coach Mike Babcock on Matthews' performance
"Total team victory for sure. Guys were battling. We wanted this one. It took the full 60 to get it done, but we got it done." -- Maple Leafs forward Zach Hyman
"I don't know. I just felt the contact, so I went after the ref there, let him know there was contact. … They looked at it, so it's a goal. I mean I just saw him, [Muzzin] had the puck, as soon as he passed it [Hyman] kind of like bumped into my head, and then that was it. But you know, I mean I trust that they get them right." -- Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask on the ruling that there was no goaltender interference on Auston Matthews' goal
"We have to rely on each other and put ourselves in a bubble and do the job, that's the bottom line. Everything is on the line now. Obviously a missed opportunity tonight, but like I said, there's not much we can do right now about tonight's game. So now it's about moving forward and be ready to head on the plane tomorrow … and be ready for a big game." -- Bruins center Patrice Bergeron

Need to know

With his 90th playoff win, Babcock passed Glen Sather and Darryl Sutter for seventh in NHL history. … Boston was 0-for-3 on the power play after going 5-for-11 in the first four games. … When a best-of-7 series is tied 2-2, the winner of Game 5 has a series record of 205-55 (.788). … The Maple Leafs are 19-5 in best-of-7 series they have led 3-2. … Toronto forward Patrick Marleau played his 189th NHL playoff game, tying Mark Recchi for 24th place. ... Bruins forward Sean Kuraly returned to the lineup after missing 12 games with a fractured hand. He had two shots in 14:22 of ice time … The teams have alternated victories in the series.

What's next

Game 6 of Eastern Conference First Round at Scotiabank Arena on Sunday (3 p.m. ET; NBC, CBC, SN, TVAS)