Bruins draw first blood
Boston’s best players dominate Toronto in series-opening win, 5-1
BOSTON — The Toronto Maple Leafs talked at length this week about the importance of trying to contain Boston’s powerful top line in their first-round playoff series with the Bruins.
There’s lots of work to be done in that department, and a host of others, after Thursday night.
The trio of David Pastrnak, Brad Marchand and Patrice Bergeron combined for six points as the Bruins thumped the Leafs 5-1 in the opener of their Eastern Conference quarterfinal.
“We’ve got to be better, obviously,” said Toronto head coach Mike Babcock, who had Marchand and Bergeron as part of Canada’s team that won the World Cup of Hockey in 2016. “Give them credit, they were good. “We weren’t good enough.” Pastrnak had a goal and two assists, Marchand added a goal and an assist, and Bergeron set up one in a dominant performance that had the Leafs’ heads spinning.
“They played with a lot of speed,” said Toronto defenceman Morgan Rielly. “The building was rocking, they were feeling the energy.” Toronto Maple Leafs forward Patrick Marleau, left, struggles for position against Boston Bruins defenceman Zdeno Chara in front of Bruins goaltender Tuukka Rask during Thursday’s series opener in Boston.
David Krejci, with a goal and an assist, David Backes and Sean Kuraly rounded out the scoring for Boston, which got 26 saves from Tuukka Rask. Torey Krug added two assists.
Zach Hyman replied for the Leafs, while Frederik Andersen made 35 stops.
Toronto’s power play will also be a point of emphasis after going 0-for-3, while the penalty kill surrendered three goals.
Game 2 is Saturday at TD Garden before the series switches to Air Canada Centre.