Krejci Gets Hat Trick, Bruins Win 4-3 In Instant Classic

(David Krejci scored the overtime winning goal and completed his hat trick as the B's take a 3-1 series lead.)

This was a great playoff hockey game. It was probably the closest game of the series so far against these two original 6 teams. The Bruins were looking to take a commanding 3-1 series lead in the series and Toronto was looking to tie it up at 2.

Joffrey Lupul got the scoring started for the Leafs when he took advantage of a little bit of a Bruins defensive breakdown and shot it past Tuukka Rask about 2 and a half minutes into the game. They would then take a 2 goal lead when Franson would take a wrist shot from the blue line, it wasn't shot hard at all and he was probably just hoping for a rebound, but he ended up getting a goal. It appeared Chara got in the way of Rask's sight and by the time he saw it it was too late. By this point I was thinking, "Here we go..."  But the Bruins wouldn't sit back. Early in the second period, after a shot was fired at Reimer producing a big rebound (which happens a lot), Patrice Bergeron jumped on it and got his first goal of the playoffs. And by the way, it was a power play goal. They would then tie the score at 2 when Marchand got a shot on net and while Krejci was in front of the net it bounced off him and went in. Originally it looked like Marchand's goal, but it was given to Krejci, which turned out to be a good thing. The tie was short lived though, because less than 2 minutes later the Leafs would regain the lead 3-2 when MacArthur scored. Krejci would then tie it up again for his second of the game. After a scoreless third period , but not uneventful, as both teams had great chances and it was a lot of up and down the ice action, we would go to the first overtime of the series. Both teams had chances, and I think the Maple Leafs had better ones actually. But it was Krejci scoring the overtime winner on a 2 on 1, completing his hat trick and giving the Bruins a 3-1 series lead.

The first line was once again on fire today, producing 7 points and 3 goals, all from Krejci but I would say that's still good. They Bruins will look to close out the series Friday at the Garden.

~Anthony