Bruins defeat Maple Leafs in Game 4, on verge of winning series

The Bruins lead the best-of-7 series 3-1. Game 5 is in Boston on Tuesday.

Marchand set the Bruins record for career Stanley Cup Playoff goals, passing Cam Neely with his 56th when he made it 2-0 on the power play at 8:20 of the second period. He one-timed a pass from Charlie McAvoy below the right face-off dot.

James van Riemsdyk and David Pastrnak scored for the Bruins, who are the No. 2 seed from the Atlantic Division. Jeremy Swayman made 25 saves in his second straight start.

Mitch Marner scored for the Maple Leafs, who are the No. 3 seed from the Atlantic. Ilya Samsonov was pulled after allowing three goals on 17 shots through two periods, and Joseph Woll made five saves in relief.

Toronto has lost its past six home playoff games dating to Game 5 of the 2023 Eastern Conference First Round.

Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews did not play after the second period because of an undisclosed issue. He had one shot on goal in 14:16.

Van Riemsdyk put the Bruins up 1-0 at 15:09 of the first period. Ryan Reaves’ attempted clearing pass along the right boards went off Boston defenseman Mason Lohrei’s stick and bounced to van Riemsdyk in the left circle before he made a backhand deke to beat Samsonov.

The Bruins went up 3-0 at 19:18. After Marchand chipped a loose puck past TJ Brodie in the high slot, he passed to Pastrnak, who one-timed a shot past a sprawling Samsonov on a 2-on-0.

Marner cut it to 3-1 at 5:43 of the third period. After a rebound came to him at the right dot, he skated through the slot and backhanded a shot past a sprawling Swayman.