Lots of Plekanec, a bit of puck luck
Veteran centre sets up insurance goal, helps contain Boston’s big line
There were more than a few eyebrows raised when Leafs coach Mike Babcock chose Tomas Plekanec — who had been struggling — to centre Patrick Marleau and Mitch Marner when Nazem Kadri got suspended.
But depth at centre — in particular one with defensive awareness — was what the Leafs needed at the trade deadline.
And it worked Monday night as Marleau scored twice — one on a defensive play started by Plekanec to put the game away — and the Leafs beat the Bruins 4-2 to cut Boston’s lead in the best-of-seven Eastern Confer- ence quarterfinal to 2-1.
“I thought Plekanec was outstanding, played his best game since he’s been here,” Babcock said. “Just the fact that maybe he didn’t feel as important as he should have when he got here, maybe that affected his play. But he was really effective (Monday).
Just as important as the win — with goals also from a jubilant Auston Matthews and James van Riemsdyk — was the fact that the Leafs kept Boston’s big guns off the scoreboard.
Not that David Pastrnak, Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand — who combined for 20 points over the first two games — didn’t have their chances. They had plenty in the third period. But Frederik Andersen was spectacular after allowing goals by Adam McQuaid and Zdeno Chara.
Andersen might have saved the playoffs with a diving midair stick save on Pastrnak with about two minutes to go in the third period and Boston’s net empty for an extra attacker.
“Mitch (Marner) had fallen down in the corner, so Patty (Marleau) had to come over and help out and the next thing you know they were able to seam us,” Babcock said. “It was a huge save for is. We stayed at two (goals ahead) instead of being tight and having to battle through that last minute.”
Marleau — at 38 years 219 days — is believed to be the oldest Leaf ever to score in a playoff game. Marner fed him on both, and both were 2-on-1s. Marleau’s second goal was Toronto’s fourth, with 3:35 to go.
It started when Plekanec stripped David Krejci of the puck at the Leaf blue line. The Montreal media in town covering the series asked Plekanec — whom they covered for more than a decade — if his performance was “vintage” Plekanec against Bergeron and Co.
“It’s never about one person,” Plekanec said. “Playing against a line like that, you have to play as a unit of five. I thought that’s what we did.
“I can’t say enough about Marleau and Marner,” Plekanec added. “It’s fun to play with those guys. I know what I came for here, why they traded for me. I tried to the best I can.”
The17:58 that Plekanec played was the most he’s played in a Toronto uniform and second among Leaf forwards for the evening.
The Bruins might argue they deserved a better fate: they hit posts, and perhaps were called for a delay of game penalty they didn’t deserve that turned into van Riemsdyk’s power play goal — the only goal of the first period.
Game 4 is Thursday at the Air Canada Centre and now Game 5 is guaranteed Saturday in Boston when Nazem Kadri’s suspension will be over.
“We know we didn’t have our best at Boston,” Marleau said. “That changed tonight. We got the win. Now we look forward to the next game.”