Three-plus

Leafs force another overtime, of course, but Bruins prevail

If the Maple Leafs are guilty of playing to the level of their opposition, then bring on more games against the Boston Bruins.

It was a night of great goals, great saves and great plays. There were some big hits, too, but not as many as you might have expected given the bad blood and the history between the two teams.

And, of course, there was overtime. Because that's what the Leafs do.

It wasn't the result the Leafs wanted — a 4-3 win by the Bruins, with Brad Marchand scoring the overtime winner — but it was the process they've been after.

“Our guys gave us everything they had,” said coach Sheldon Keefe. “If there's ever a game where both teams deserve two points, this is probably it. But that's not the way the league works.”

Auston Matthews ended a modest scoring drought with his first goal in five games and scored again with five seconds left to force extra time. He'd been called out by his coach earlier in the day, but was praised by Keefe by the end of it.

“I thought he was a beast out there tonight,” said Keefe. “I thought he was all over the puck. I thought he attacked the net, he shot the puck. Obviously, two huge goals for us, so I thought he was excellent.”

The Leafs have gone to overtime or the shootout 11 times.

“Two competitive teams and they've been the class of the league the last two years,” Matthews said. “I knew it was going to be a challenge. I liked the way that we came out and played. It could have gone either way.

Max Domi ended an even longer goal drought, with his first goal with the Leafs and the puck stored away for safekeeping. The crowd cheered as loud for Max's goal as they did for his dad's fights a generation ago.

“I am super happy to be playing at home and in front of my hometown fans and I'm enjoying every second of it, but it would have been nicer to get the win,” Domi said.

And Joseph Woll had another strong night in net, his fourth straight start.

A solid game up and down the lineup. But it was a loss, albeit the kind that comes with a point. It was the Leafs' second loss in four games, but there’s nothing to panic about. They’re still trending comfortably in the Atlantic Division.

The Bruins are the cream of the crop. They had stubbed their toe earlier in the week with a rare three-game losing streak. But there's too much there: too much talent, too much goaltending, too much history.

The Leafs showed they can skate with the Bruins. If they can play to that level more often — a trait that's been missing despite their record — they will silence some critics.

“Our group showed what we're capable of and if we find a way to string 60 minutes together like that, we'll be a tough team to beat as well,” Domi said.

More from Matthews

Matthews has had a hot-and-cold type season and had gone four straight games without scoring, with only two assists in that time. “Auston is a driver for our team,” Keefe said. “When he's going, we're going.”

Matthews ended his drought in the second period, the result of a good forechecking shift for his line and he scored the goal with the extra attacker on the ice.

“I thought we were just hunting pucks really well and, getting turnovers, attacking,” he said. “And we had more of an attack mentality instead of trying to make the extra play. I thought it paid off. We had a lot of really good shifts.”

About Marchand

Much ink, oxygen and digital space has been devoted over the years to how soft the Leafs are, and it felt to many like it came to a head the last time the two teams met Nov. 2. That's when Marchand took out Timothy Liljegren in the corner, with Marchand's stick between Liljegren's legs ultimately causing a high ankle sprain injury. Liljegren hasn't played since and is only starting to skate again.

The Leafs were pilloried for not responding in kind to Marchand, the master of walking that line on hockey plays. Marchand saw it differently.

“There wasn't a response because it wasn't a bad play,” he said. “Things happen fast in this game when you get tied up and try to battle for a position on the puck.”

Still, the Leafs are well aware of who he is and what he does.

“He's not going to fight you, that's for sure,” said Ryan Reaves, who was back in the lineup. “You've got to play him hard and try and beat him into whatever, but you've got to make sure that you're doing it smartly. You can't take penalties. He'll try and make you take something stupid. Their power play is dangerous.”

Addressing team toughness

Either way, the Leafs believe their overall team toughness has improved since the Marchand-Liljegren incident and they’re doing a better job of looking out for each other.

“We've addressed it over the last couple of weeks, especially right after that happened,” Reaves said. “A lot of different guys have stepped up. It just seems to be a full team effort.”