In a game that many Leafs fan were excited for, the Leafs were dominated all night long by the Boston Bruins. Toronto looked over matched much of the night not being able to handle the Bruins breakout. In a game that you would have thought the Leafs would come out firing, because of the nine year playoff hiatus, they didn’t really show up like many would have imagined. The Bruins showed just why they are the favorite to win the series and if they can pull off another win in Toronto on Wednesday, Toronto will have a hard time trying to fight back down 3-1 if that is the case.

May 6, 2013; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Cody Franson (4) keeps Boston Bruins forward David Krejci (46) away from Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender James Reimer (34) during game three of the first round of the 2013 Stanley Cup playoffs at the Air Canada Centre. Boston defeated Toronto 5-2. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports

GAME RECAP

There has been so much, probably too much, talk about the Chara Vs. Kessell match-up. Although Chara would probably pair up well against any opponent, he has done a good job shutting down the Leafs goal scorer. This is a game that Toronto finally started shooting the puck and weren’t rewarded for it, out shooting the Bruins 47-38. The reason Toronto lost obviously includes the play of James Reimer, not his best playoff performance, the face-off circle and the giveaways. If the Leafs can continue to shoot the puck like they did this game and tighten up the defense a little, they will definitely be successful next game. After being down 2 to the Bruins, who got goals from Adam McQuaid and Rich Peverly, the Leafs just could never get it together enough to equalize the game. Tuukka Rask saved a lot of the shots that he should have stopped and then some and that really helped the Bruins to get the victory. After being down 2, toronto managed to get within 1, with a goal from Jake Gardiner, who I thought played a very solid game. I’ve been saying since the start of the series he should be playing instead of other players such as Micael Kostka or Ryan O’Byrne. He is far more skilled and yes will make some mistakes but the positives far out weight the negatives. Not even 3 minutes later Nathan Horton, who continues to play well, and Daniel Paille, who scored a short handed goal, made it 4-1 Bruins. The game was pretty much out of reach for the Leafs as the third period began. Phil Kessel managed to cut the lead by one, but the Bruins were just too much as David Krejci put the final nail in the Leafs cofin to make the 5-2 score a final. The Bruins pretty much played what you would call “a perfect road win” as they managed to hold the Leafs to just two goals and got production from all different players as 5 different Bruins contributed. The Toronto Maple Leafs will look to equal the series once more on Wednesday night as they host game 4.

SENSHOT 3 STARS

1. Tuukka Rask, BOS – 47 saves
2. Milan Lucic, BOS – 3 assists, 5 shots
3. Jake Gardiner, TOR – 1 goal, 4 shots

May 4, 2013; Boston, MA, USA; Toronto Maple Leafs center Mikhail Grabovski (84) celebrates a goal by Toronto Maple Leafs left wing James van Riemsdyk (not pictured) during the third period in game two of the first round of the 2013 Stanley Cup playoffs against the Boston Bruins at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports

Boston actually opened the scoring after an entertaining but scoreless first period.  Early in the second, Nathan Horton knocked home a rebound off of Milan Lucic‘s shot with his skate to make it 1-0 before the period was 2 minutes old.  Then the Leafs took the game over.   First, Lupul shot home a rebound of his own off Jake Gardiner‘s shot  on the power play to even the score about three and a half minutes later.  Then Lupul struck again just before the 12 minute mark after Matt Frattin rushed the puck into the Bruins zone and fed a pass across the slot that Lupul backhanded home to give the Leafs the lead, which is how the second period would end.

Phil Kessel opened the third period converting a breakaway pass from Nazem Kadri to score his first even strength goal against the Bruins since being traded from Boston four years ago.  The two goal cushion was much welcomed, and was needed as Boston didn’t quit coming.  Johnny Boychuk‘s point shot got past Reimer to bring the Bruins within one with over 9 minutes left to play.  Boston peppered Reimer with 13 shots in the third, but the Boychuck goal was the only one that would get past him.  James van Riemsdyk scored a nice spin-o-rama goal right in front of Tuukka Rask to ice the game with just over 3 minutes left to cap the scoring.

SENSHOT’S 3 STARS

1. James Reimer

2. Joffrey Lupul

3. Matt Frattin

Game 3 goes Monday night at 7:00 pm.  It will be the first playoff game in Toronto since May 4, 2004 when the Leafs were eliminated in 6 games by the Flyers in the Conference semi-finals.

OTHER GAMES OF THE NIGHT

Washington Shuts Out The Rangers 1-0 in OT, take 2-0 series lead

Quick Shuts Out Blues, Kings get back into Series

Hiller blanks Wings, Ducks take series lead