After a six-game postseason drought, Auston Matthews finally scored his 70th goal of the season, which not only gave the Maple Leafs their first lead over the Bruins this season but also tied the best-of-seven first-round series at a game apiece.
The breakaway goal came with just over eight minutes remaining, boosting Toronto to a 3-2 win over the Bruins Monday night at TD Garden. The clubs will head to Toronto for a Wednesday date deadlocked at a games apiece.
Boston, which held a 2-1 lead after the first period, saw their offense halted by Ilya Samsonov, who made 19 saves over the final 40 minutes.
The Bruins opened the game with an aggressive physical style, led by Charlie McAvoy and Brandon Carlo, carrying over the intensity of Game 1. However, the Leafs managed to tie the game just 14 seconds after the Bruins took the lead in the second period, with Max Domi banging in his own rebound.
After Boston regained the lead, the Maple Leafs tied it again with 27 seconds left on a power play when John Tavares’s spin-o-rama shot sailed over Ullmark’s blocker.
The teams will meet again in Toronto for Game 3 on Wednesday.
