One point is better than none.
Given the way the Maple Leafs were bad in a pair of losses earlier in the week, an overtime loss against the Bruins in Boston on Saturday night was a step forward.
Not a big one, mind you, but Toronto will take it.
Following a turnover by captain Auston Matthews in the extra period, Bruins captain Brad Marchand lifted the puck over a sprawled Anthony Stolarz at 2:26, giving the Bruins a 4-3 win.
The Leafs never seem to win in Boston, whether it’s the regular season or the playoffs, and another zero on the power play didn’t help. Toronto was 0-for-3 to hit 3-for-30 on the season, but couldn’t sustain much at 5-on-5 either, as it was outshot 25-15 with both teams at full strength. The Leafs have lost four of their past five.
After being outplayed for much of the third period, the Leafs tied the game at 18:43.
Matthews found open ice as he skated to the net and re-directed a pass from Mitch Marner behind Bruins goalie Jeremy Swayman. We’ve seen that combination succeed time and again, and with the Leafs sputtering, the duo’s timing was perfect.
Marner assisted on all three Leafs goals.
Morgan Rielly celebrated his 800th game in the National Hockey League with his second goal of the season to give Toronto a 2-1 lead at 7:41 of the second. Marner did the work on the goal, deftly eluding several Bruins to set up Rielly.
The Leafs lead didn’t last long.
Justin Brazeau scored at 12:38 after Bobby McMann bobbled the puck along the boards, and 35 seconds later, fourth-liner Mark Kastelic put the Bruins up 3-2 when he was left alone in front of Stolarz. Rielly noticed Kastelic, but couldn’t respond in time to check the Boston forward.
Matthew Knies opened the scoring 35 seconds into the second period. Matthews outworked the Bruins at the boards, moved to the centre of the ice and Knies picked up the puck, firing it past Swayman.
David Pastrnak tied the game two minutes later when he one-timed a Marchand pass into the net during a Bruins power play.
Rielly is 11th in Leafs franchise history in games played and as long as he stays healthy this season, he will move past Ron Stewart (838 games) and Darryl Sittler (844 games) into ninth. Tomas Kaberle is eighth at 878.
On Saturday, Rielly had a new defence partner, playing with Oliver Ekman-Larsson. Chris Tanev skated with McCabe.
Philippe Myers made his season debut on the Leafs blue line, logging 12 minutes 11 seconds of ice time. Winger Max Pacioretty returned after missing one game with a lower-body injury.