Tonight's Officials
Referees Kendrick Nicholson (30), Francois St-Laurent (8)
Linesmen Travis Gawryletz (67), Travis Toomey (90)
Ntl. Anthem April Cushman
TONIGHT’S GAME - The Bruins host the Maple Leafs tonight in the 2nd of 3 games between these teams this season and Toronto’s lone visit to TD Garden ... The Bruins are 41-19-5 this season and they are 20-10-2 on home ice. - The Bruins play game 3 tonight of their 5-game home stand (2-0-0) after playing 14 of their previous 18 games on the road ... They will continue hosting Toronto on 3/29, continuing vs. New Jersey on 3/31 and Columbus on 4/2.
MAN-GAMES LOST TO INJURY - 184 - Jakub Zboril: Right knee surgery; Expected to miss remainder of the season
MILESTONES APPROACHING - Marc McLaughlin is looking to play his first NHL game. - Charlie McAvoy is three games short of his 300th NHL game. - Nick Foligno is three points shy of his 500th NHL point. - Mike Reilly is six points shy of his 100th NHL point. - David Pastrnak is seven points shy of his 500th NHL point. - Craig Smith is seven points short of 400 NHL points. - Matt Grzelcyk is seven points shy of his 100th NHL point. - Derek Forbort is eight games short of his 400th NHL game. - Patrice Bergeron is eight goals short of his 400th NHL goal ... Will become the 4th Bruin in history to hit that milestone.
BOSTON vs TORONTO, LIFETIME SERIES 11/6 5-2 L at - The Bruins and Maple Leafs are meeting for the 679th time in their histories with the Bruins having a 301-266-98-13 record and 2,006-2,015 scoring advantage in those games. - The Bruins are 187-99-47-5 vs. the Maple Leafs in Boston with a 1,109-896 margin in those 338 games. - The Bruins lost the 1st game of this season’s series by a 5-2 score on 11/6 and are now 4-1-1 in their last 6 games with a 23-11-5 record in their last 39 games … They have won their last 4 home games and are 13-4-2 in their last 19 games in Boston.
The Boston Bruins will look to remain on the winning track Tuesday night when they host the Toronto Maple Leafs in a pivotal Atlantic Division game.
The Original Six rivals boast identical 41-19-5 records entering their only meeting at Boston this season.
In their only matchup of the season, host Toronto won 5-2 on Nov. 6.
Boston improved to 14-2-1 since Feb. 19 with Saturday's 6-3 home win over the New York Islanders. It was the Bruins' fourth win in a row.
"It's a division rival, and it does matter a little bit more in the standings because of where we are," Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy said. "We haven't talked at all about the standings other than moving up as the year went on, and now we've been able to accomplish that. We'll see how that plays out down the stretch. We control what we can control, and we've done a good job of that."
Against the Islanders, Brad Marchand and Taylor Hall both had a goal and two assists, while Erik Haula, David Pastrnak (one goal, one assist each) and Charlie McAvoy (two assists) also had multiple points for Boston.
Hall's power-play goal gave the Bruins a 2-0 first-period lead. A four-goal second period for Boston broke the game open as Linus Ullmark finished with 24 saves.
"I think we've found a lot of different avenues to the two points every night without relying on one thing," Cassidy said. "We do rely on good team defense, making the difference-making plays at certain points. ... (The Islanders) made one at the end of the first period to get back in the game, but we came out in the second and scored the next goal."
Patrice Bergeron said he felt "fine" in his return to the lineup following a four-game absence due to an elbow infection.
In his 1,200th NHL game, the Bruins' captain registered an assist on Marchand's goal. Bergeron ranks third behind Ray Bourque and Johnny Bucyk in games played in Bruins history.
"It's special. Especially being an Original Six team, a storied franchise," Bergeron said. "Being around and having the chance to meet those guys, Bucyk, Bourque, (Bobby) Orr, and all the greats, it's an honor and something I don't take lightly to be a Boston Bruin."
Toronto moved to 6-3-1 since March 7 and drew even with the Bruins for third place in the division following a 5-2 victory Sunday over the Florida Panthers.
John Tavares had two power-play goals, Auston Matthews added his 48th goal of the season, and Mitch Marner had three assists to become the fastest player in Leafs history to reach the 300-assist milestone (411 games).
"(Tavares) is as good as anybody in hockey below the hash marks, so for him to get on those two pucks was great," Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe said. "Great plays by Mitch, great finishes by John. ... (Marner) is a difference maker and makes everybody around better."
Petr Mrazek, who made 34 saves against the Panthers, has back-to-back wins after allowing 20 goals in his previous five appearances.
"It shows he's a battler, he competes and he believes in himself," Keefe said. "He was outstanding again tonight. That's two in a row now that he's looked like the goalie that he is and has been throughout his career, so it's great that he's bounced back and responded well to adversity. That's a terrific sign and a testament to his character."
In the Nov. 6 Toronto-Boston game, Matthews scored two goals, Tavares had two goals and an assist, and Marner had a goal and three assists.
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