BOSTON—If there was going to be a hero for the Toronto Maple Leafs, it made sense it was going to be Auston Matthews.
He’d scored 69 times in the regular season. But his first goal of the post-season was bigger.
Matthews scored on a breakaway in the third period to break a tie as the Leafs beat the Boston Bruins 3-2 Monday night at the TD Garden to take Game 2 of their best-of-seven Stanley Cup playoffs first-round series.
He’s just world class, everything he does,” captain John Tavares said of Matthews. “When you see the drive every single day, and the passion for the game, and wanting to be such a difference maker night in and night out.
“At this time of year to have the night like he did was massive for our group. It puts us back on level terms going home, so big win for us and he certainly led the way.”
Tavares and Max Domi also scored — with Matthews picking up assists on both goals — as the Leafs changed the narrative around the series with a split in Boston.
Matthews played a team-high 23:24 and also won 69 per cent of his faceoffs.
“Auston, a goal and two assists and he’s all over the stat sheet tonight in so many regards,” said Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe. “He’s affecting the game positively for us. But to me, just the way he worked. He competed, he was hard. Physical. Winning puck battles all over the ice.”
It was a messy game, with the Leafs making mistakes that led two Boston goals while themselves having a pair of goals nullified on video review.
“I loved our resolve tonight,” said Keefe. “There were things piling up that weren’t really going our way, but the guys stayed with it. Great effort on the road and a really good team win.
Forward pass
When Matthews beat Linus Ullmark with a deke at 12:06 of the third it represented the first time the Maple Leafs had taken a lead over Boston all season. And it was the first win over Boston since Nov. 5, 2022. The Bruins had won eight in a row since, including Game 1 on Saturday.
On the winning goal, Domi was more like a quarterback on the play, Matthews the receiver. Domi launched a pass about eight feet over the ice through the neutral zone as it arced down toward Matthews at the Boston blue line. He extended his left hand to coral it down his stick.
“It’s happening so fast, you don’t really have time to think.” said Matthews. “It’s instincts and trying to make the right play, one on one with the goalie. Make a move, or take a shot, and try to find an opening.”
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