The Toronto Maple Leafs went into TD Garden on Tuesday night and had no business leaving with two points.
It was all thanks to Pontus Holmberg tying the game 4-4 with under a minute left, and then Mitch Marner called &#8216;game&#8217; with an overtime breakaway winner. It capped off an ugly night for the Maple Leafs, but they still stole two points <a href="https://theleafsnation.com/news/its-time-for-leafs-capitalize-most-vulnerable-bruins-team-recent-memory">from their rival Boston Bruins</a>. Marner&#8217;s OT winner was his second of the night as he really loves playing hockey in Boston these days:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
MITCH MARNER ENDS IT! 
THE LEAFS COMPLETE THE COMEBACK! <a href="https://t.co/y7egA3rJsf">pic.twitter.com/y7egA3rJsf</a>
&mdash; Omar (@TicTacTOmar) <a href="https://twitter.com/TicTacTOmar/status/1894581549728702515?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 26, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The Maple Leafs didn&#8217;t start on time and paid for it. 29 seconds into the game, Bruins forward David Pastrnak found his way behind the a sprawling Jake McCabe and past Chris Tanev, in all alone on Anthony Stolarz, and very quickly the Leafs were behind the eight ball 1-0.
The early frustration didn&#8217;t end there, as the usual suspects were out, as Brad Marchand tapped one in on the door step with just under six minutes left in the opening frame to make it 2-0. The puck hit McCabe in the face and sat pretty for Marchand to tap it in, which was a horrible bounce, but unfortunately McCabe&#8217;s night was a rough one from there filled with bad reads, costly turnovers, and worst of all, he lost his defense partner <a href="https://theleafsnation.com/news/leafs-chris-tanev-will-not-return-bruins-upper-body-injury">Chris Tanev to an upper-body injury</a>.
Tanev left the game early on in the first period and did not return. Everyone is holding their breath hoping it&#8217;s nothing serious as Tanev&#8217;s the Leafs&#8217; most important defenseman. McCabe&#8217;s going to need to bounce back quick if Tanev is unavailable Friday against the Rangers.
Speaking of the Leafs&#8217; blueline, Morgan Rielly recorded his 500th career NHL point when he cut the Bruins&#8217; lead to 3-1 at the 13:52 mark of the second frame. Rielly showed of his traditional wrist shot and it bounced in off a leg in front, and behind Bruins&#8217; netminder Jeremy Swayman:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
Morgan Rielly has his 7th of the season 🚨 <a href="https://t.co/oDHmZcVwpU">pic.twitter.com/oDHmZcVwpU</a>
&mdash; Omar (@TicTacTOmar) <a href="https://twitter.com/TicTacTOmar/status/1894561041830343004?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 26, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Rielly&#8217;s 501st point came on a beautiful outlet pass to spring Nick Robertson, who took care of the rest, wristing one past Swayman glove side. Robertson&#8217;s heating up with three goals in his last two games, and he&#8217;s up to 11 on the year. It will be interesting to see how things shake up for him before the trade deadline March 7, and if he stays in Toronto, who his linemates will be post-deadline.
The Maple Leafs came into the game the heavy favorites against a vulnerable Bruins&#8217; lineup but for most of the game they hung Stolarz out to dry, and somehow found a way to grind it out in the end. They owe Stolarz huge for his performance, and ability to keep them in the game.
Craig Berube&#8217;s team can get away with this type of game in February, but he&#8217;ll be preaching to clean it up down the stretch. The one good thing is it doesn&#8217;t appear likely a run to the Stanley Cup will go through Boston this season for the Maple Leafs.

The Toronto Maple Leafs went into TD Garden on Tuesday night and had no business leaving with two points.

It was all thanks to Pontus Holmberg tying the game 4-4 with under a minute left, and then Mitch Marner called 'game' with an overtime breakaway winner. It capped off an ugly night for the Maple Leafs, but they still stole two points <a href="https://theleafsnation.com/news/its-time-for-leafs-capitalize-most-vulnerable-bruins-team-recent-memory">from their rival Boston Bruins</a>. Marner's OT winner was his second of the night as he really loves playing hockey in Boston these days:

https://twitter.com/TicTacTOmar/status/1894581549728702515?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

The Maple Leafs didn't start on time and paid for it. 29 seconds into the game, Bruins forward David Pastrnak found his way behind the a sprawling Jake McCabe and past Chris Tanev, in all alone on Anthony Stolarz, and very quickly the Leafs were behind the eight ball 1-0.

The early frustration didn't end there, as the usual suspects were out, as Brad Marchand tapped one in on the door step with just under six minutes left in the opening frame to make it 2-0. The puck hit McCabe in the face and sat pretty for Marchand to tap it in, which was a horrible bounce, but unfortunately McCabe's night was a rough one from there filled with bad reads, costly turnovers, and worst of all, he lost his defense partner <a href="https://theleafsnation.com/news/leafs-chris-tanev-will-not-return-bruins-upper-body-injury">Chris Tanev to an upper-body injury</a>.

Tanev left the game early on in the first period and did not return. Everyone is holding their breath hoping it's nothing serious as Tanev's the Leafs' most important defenseman. McCabe's going to need to bounce back quick if Tanev is unavailable Friday against the Rangers.

Speaking of the Leafs' blueline, Morgan Rielly recorded his 500th career NHL point when he cut the Bruins' lead to 3-1 at the 13:52 mark of the second frame. Rielly showed of his traditional wrist shot and it bounced in off a leg in front, and behind Bruins' netminder Jeremy Swayman:

https://twitter.com/TicTacTOmar/status/1894561041830343004?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

Rielly's 501st point came on a beautiful outlet pass to spring Nick Robertson, who took care of the rest, wristing one past Swayman glove side. Robertson's heating up with three goals in his last two games, and he's up to 11 on the year. It will be interesting to see how things shake up for him before the trade deadline March 7, and if he stays in Toronto, who his linemates will be post-deadline.

The Maple Leafs came into the game the heavy favorites against a vulnerable Bruins' lineup but for most of the game they hung Stolarz out to dry, and somehow found a way to grind it out in the end. They owe Stolarz huge for his performance, and ability to keep them in the game.

Craig Berube's team can get away with this type of game in February, but he'll be preaching to clean it up down the stretch. The one good thing is it doesn't appear likely a run to the Stanley Cup will go through Boston this season for the Maple Leafs.

Knee Jerk Reaction: Marner double dips, Maple Leafs steal two points in Boston

Brian Burke pulls back the curtain on what it’s like to be a GM this time of year: Leafs Morning Take

Could the Leafs pitch a trade offer for Hurricanes’ Mikko Rantanen? GM Brad Treliving ‘considering all options’

Why the Maple Leafs need to separate themselves from the rest of the Eastern Conference on this road trip

One trade target for the Maple Leafs on every team that could potentially be a deadline seller

William Nylander skating Toronto Maple Leafs

Recent articles from Jeremy Tingly

Breaking News