Grzelcyk's Last-Minute Tally Lifts Bruins Over Leafs

BOSTON - Matt Grzelcyk's blast from the point with 1:16 remaining was the difference in a playoff-style showdown between the Bruins and Maple Leafs on Saturday night at TD Garden that ended in a 4-3 victory for Boston. The win was the Black & Gold's 20th on home ice this season and pushed them to the 70-point plateau, giving them an 11-point cushion over second-place Toronto in the Atlantic Division.
"It was great, I thought we just got rewarded as a team for playing a pretty complete 60," said Grzelcyk. "I think it was the first time in a while that we felt that good about our game and, obviously, we know the rivalry and how good of a team they are, so it was kind of a statement game for us we felt like. And we pride ourselves in not losing two in a row so that was the focus tonight."
All the news and notes from Boston's big win over the Leafs on Causeway Street:

Grzelcyk Calls Game

With time ticking away late in the third, the Bruins went to work in the Toronto end. After keeping a loose puck in at the blue line, Brandon Carlo quickly sent a feed back down low to Taylor Hall, who ripped a shot on goal from a sharp angle.
The rebound shot out to the right of Toronto goalie Matt Murray and clanked off the wall where Grzelcyk swooped in from the point and ripped a one-timer from the top of the circle that sailed by Murray with David Krejci planted out front.
"I think Hallsy was trying to make a play at the net and I'm not sure where their wing was," said Grzelcyk. "With video, we've been talking about getting the D kind of active, and I just saw a little bit of daylight and the puck kind of just bounced right through my stick.
"I kind of knew there was only a minute and a half or so left, so I just wanted to get a puck to the net and luckily it went in."

Bruins coach Jim Montgomery called Grzelcyk's performance his "best game of the year." The blue liner landed two shots on goal, made three blocks, and was a plus-2 in 17:27 of ice time.
"He was unreal defensively and offensively, and I'm glad he got rewarded, because he's been really good here," said Montgomery. "Ever since we went out on the West Coast trip, he's been picking up his offensive side and his defensive gaps, and he's getting rewarded with he's having the puck a lot more which is good for us."
Grzelcyk echoed his coach's sentiments, acknowledging that his game has been in a much better spot as of late, particularly when it comes to his play with the puck.
"Yeah, I think my game has been coming," he said. "I've started to feel a bit more confident with the puck and just talking with [Montgomery] and trusting my skating, I think that's kind of where it all stems from.
"Tonight, we just played great as a team and everyone contributed, and I just wanted to add to that tonight and it was just a fun game to be a part of."

Greer Gets It Done

On Friday afternoon, shortly before Joona Koppanen was assigned to Providence, Montgomery mused that he was likely to go with the players that have gotten the Bruins this far, an indication that A.J. Greer would return to the lineup after missing three games with illness.
Greer did indeed end up back in the lineup against the Leafs and rewarded his coach's confidence with a crucial marker midway through the second period. After a huge save by Linus Ullmark at one end, the B's fourth line charged through the neutral zone as plays from Tomas Nosek and Nick Foligno got Greer the puck in the middle of the slot.
The 26-year-old didn't miss as he wristed one through Murray's five-hole to give the Bruins a 3-2 lead at 10:33 of the middle frame.
"It's always rewarding when you get the go ahead, lineup-wise and just knowing you've put in the work, whether you're in or out of the lineup," said Greer. "That's always the mentality that I have is you can't take any day for granted and to just keep working as hard as I can.
"So, yeah, it's definitely rewarding, especially playing against a big team like that and getting such an electric win, it makes it even better."

The tally also ended a lengthy goal-less streak for Greer, who potted three goals over the season's first four games before going 22 games without one, the last coming on Oct. 18 against Ottawa.
"It was definitely a great feeling. I think I was due," said Greer. "I think you put a little pressure on yourself when you get to a few games where you don't score, or you don't get on the scoresheet. You know you're playing kind of the right way, but you aren't getting rewarded and you aren't getting as many looks as you want to.
"I think getting that shot off and scoring just kind of released a lot of pressure off my back, but credit to my linemates. I think we had a great night together. We brought the energy and played well in both zones."
Greer was also in the middle of a large scrum at the end of the second period, which had both teams lingering at center ice before finally retreating to their dressing rooms. The winger was not pleased with Toronto's Michael Bunting for a hit on Patrice Bergeron and let him know it, which led to Wayne Simmonds stepping in for some further pleasantries.
Greer and Simmonds were both issued 10-minute misconducts.
"I mean, I think if you're going to come after Bergy like that, you have to respond," said Greer. "I didn't do much, I was just going to go and tell him that, 'Hey, if you're going to do that, you have to pick your head up.'
"We got in the penalty box, and I told Simmonds, 'You would've done the same thing! And he was like, 'Yeah, I would.' So, it's just how it goes."
Montgomery was pleased with the way his players stuck together during the altercation.
"I think A.J. loves being a Bruin and I think he knew what he was doing tonight," said Montgomery. "I thought we played with the right amount of emotion, and we didn't get emotional, and that's hard not to do in a game like tonight. Like the scrum at the end of the second - there was some emotion going on, and I just liked how we all stuck together out there.
"They did too. There's players on their team that certain guys on our team don't like, and I'm sure it's the same way [for them]. That's what makes a rivalry, and that's why it was such a heated, good hockey game."

Emotional Overflow

Every player - and Montgomery - who spoke after the game noted the significant emotion that was permeating throughout the building on Saturday night, saying that it certainly had the feeling of a playoff atmosphere.
"I think the energy was there, the fans were engaged, we were engaged on both sides," said Bergeron. "Those are the type of games we're going to see down the road - and probably in the playoffs. It was a great game, and it was fun to be a part of it. It was two good teams going at it."
Montgomery admitted that he didn't realize how emotionally invested his club was in securing two points until he saw the way the players were battling on the ice.
"I think the game meant more to us than I imagined before the game," he said. "I think that's my biggest takeaway, and I'm glad it did. We're proud of not having lost two in a row, and there was a purpose to what we were doing, not only because it was the second-place team in Toronto that we were playing, but we don't want to lose two in a row, because if you get into a playoff, you lose two in a row, you're in a little bit of a hole."
The tone was set in the early going when Foligno and Simmonds dropped the gloves at center ice after Simmonds delivered a heavy hit on Foligno along the boards seconds earlier.
"I think it was a perfect example to get us going, to give us some energy, get our legs into it," said Bergeron. "When you see a guy like that that's been around for a long time that plays for the crest but also for his teammates, and to step up like that, it goes a long way. We talked about the energy in the building at the start of the game. It's a statement, and it makes a big difference. It definitely got the energy going for us. I'm sure for both sides, but for us, for sure."

Keeping It Out

Ullmark made just 18 saves, many of them of the Grade-A variety, though none were more impressive than his blocker stop just moments before Greer gave the Bruins the lead. After Hall sprawled out to deny a 2-on-1 with a diving stick swat, the puck popped out to Ullmark's right where Mark Giordano appeared to have an open net.
But as Hall tumbled into the crease, Ullmark fell backwards and stuck out his right hand, stopping Giordano's attempt with his palm.
"Unreal," said Montgomery. "He just keeps showing that he is someone you can trust in big moments. The second [Toronto] goal, I haven't looked back at it. I haven't seen him get beat from that area this year, but then he makes four big-time saves after that in the second period. That 2-on-0 save, that's big time."

Montgomery was also complimentary of Hall's defensive effort on the play - and the growth of his overall game this season."Don Sweeney has been really impressed, and I have been," said Montgomery. "I don't know Taylor before this year as a player as far as defensive habits, but his willingness to play good defense, his willingness to backcheck and track pucks is the best - I think, again it's Don Sweeney's words - I've seen it.
"That's what I believe. This is Taylor Hall. He's playing for a championship, and he's playing like a guy that loves the way the Bruins play hockey."
Boston's bench boss also had high praise for Hall's line, which included Krejci and Craig Smith.
"Liked them. I thought that was Smitty's best game of the year," said Montgomery. "Krejci is just smart. I had to use him a lot because of faceoffs, and I thought Hall - that play at the end [on Grzelcyk's goal], that's a play we like to make where he sends that right across the crease and we have two bodies there, and that's why we have the weak-side defenseman there.
"Toronto does the same thing, and there weak-side defensemen gave us some issues in our own D zone, but we got the game-winning goal because of a similar-style play."