Maple Leafs edge Bruins in Game 2, tie Eastern 1st Round

BOSTON -- Auston Matthews scored the go-ahead goal in the third period and had two assists, helping the Toronto Maple Leafs even their Eastern Conference First Round series against the Boston Bruins with a 3-2 win in Game 2 at TD Garden on Monday.

Max Domi had a goal and an assist, and Ilya Samsonov made 27 saves for Toronto, the No. 3 seed from the Atlantic Division. The Maple Leafs played without forward William Nylander for a second straight game because of an undisclosed injury.

“Loved our resolve tonight,” Toronto coach Sheldon Keefe said. “… There’s some things kind of piling up that weren’t really going our way, but the guys stayed with it. So great effort here on the road tonight, and really good team win.”

Morgan Geekie and David Pastrnak scored, and Linus Ullmark made 30 saves for Boston, the No. 2 seed from the Atlantic, after Jeremy Swayman was in goal for the 5-1 win in Game 1 on Saturday.

“I don’t think our urgency was where it needed to be to prevail tonight,” Bruins coach Jim Montgomery said. “I didn’t think puck management was a detriment to us, I just didn’t think we won enough wall battles to get out of our end successfully.”

Game 3 of the best-of-7 series is at Toronto on Wednesday (7 p.m. ET; CBC, TVAS, SN, NESN, ESPN).

Matthews put Toronto up 3-2 at 12:06 of the third, getting behind Boston defenseman Charlie McAvoy on a breakaway. Domi flipped the puck to the Boston blue line from his own zone, and Matthews knocked it down with his glove before scoring with a deke.

“It’s all about just trying to get to the net,” Matthews said. “It’s a battle at the net fronts out there, and I guess on the goal, [it was] just a flip out of the zone and just try to anticipate and time it well.”

Geekie gave the Bruins a 1-0 lead at 10:18 of the first period with a power-play goal, sending Brad Marchand’s cross-ice pass into an open net from in front of the goal line.

“I think we were being pretty hard on ourselves and not giving ourselves enough credit for how good we’ve been [on the power play] most of the year,” Geekie said. “So it’s nice to see pucks go in, both units, so we’re just trying to go out there and capitalize on those.”

Domi tied it 1-1 14 seconds later at 10:32, putting in his own rebound at the net front.

Pastrnak gave the Bruins a 2-1 lead with eight seconds left in the first. Pavel Zacha sent a backhand centering pass past Maple Leafs defenseman Jake McCabe, and Pastrnak scored with a one-timer in the slot.

“I kind of felt it as soon as I moved the puck to the seam,” Pastrnak said. “I felt that I was able to spin off both [defenders], so how I said, [heck] of a play by ‘Pav’ recognizing that I did that and was wide open.”

Tyler Bertuzzi had an apparent power-play goal overturned for Toronto at 16:57 of the second period when the NHL Situation Room determined upon video review that he played the puck with a high stick, but John Tavares tied it 2-2 on the same power play at 18:26. He got to a loose puck high in the left circle, spun and scored with a slap shot to the short side.

“There’s some things to clean up, definitely,” Ullmark said. “But it’s a long series and now it’s all about recharging. The sun will come up tomorrow as well. We go to Toronto and duke it out once again.”

Samsonov stopped Zacha’s tip from the slot with 54 seconds left in the third, and Pastrnak nearly knocked in the puck two seconds later after it slipped behind Samsonov, but Matthews got between the puck and goal line to keep it out and secure the win.

“[Matthews is] just world class, everything he does,” said Tavares, the Maple Leafs captain. “And I think when you see the drive every single day, and the passion for the game, and wanting to be such a difference-maker night in, night out -- and certainly at this time of year -- having a night like he did was massive for our group. Puts us back on level terms going home, so big win for us and he certainly led the way.”

NOTES: Toronto ended an eight-game losing streak against Boston dating to Jan. 14, 2023. … Matthews had his fourth three-point game in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, tied for the third-most in Maple Leafs history, behind Doug Gilmour (10) and Darryl Sittler (seven). … Matthews’ goal gave Toronto its first lead against Boston this season (six games). … Domi and his father, Tie, became the ninth father and son to each score a playoff goal for the same franchise. … Bruins defenseman Andrew Peeke left in the second period with an undisclosed injury. Montgomery did not have an update. … Pastrnak scored his eighth playoff goal against Toronto, tying teammate Jake DeBrusk for the most among active players.