Patrice Bergeron (37), Tyler Seguin (19), and Brad Marchand (63) of the Boston Bruins celebrate following Bergeron’s game-winning extra-time goal against the Toronto Maple Leafs during the 2013 NHL Stanley Cup play-offs at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts, yesterday.
BOSTON, Massachusetts: Patrice Bergeron scored the game winner 6:05 into extratime to cap a wild rally as the Boston Bruins stunned the Toronto Maple Leafs 5-4 in game seven of their opening round play-off series.
Bergeron, who also scored the game-tying goal with just 50 seconds left in the third period, helped the Bruins become the first team in National Hockey League history to win a game seven when trailing by three goals in the third period.
“We found a way to win and that is all that matters,” Canadian forward Bergeron said.
The Bruins scored four unanswered goals after being down 4-1 with 11 minutes left in the third period.
Boston advances to the second round of the play-offs where they will face the New York Rangers who beat the Washington Capitals 5-0 in the second game-seven contest yesterday. Bergeron notched the winner in the extra session when his shot from the right circle was knocked down in front of the net.
The Leafs clearing attempt failed and Bergeron picked it up before firing a shot past a shell-shocked Toronto goalie James Reimer.
Canada’s Nathan Horton and Milan Lucic scored one goal each before Bergeron struck to send the contest into extra time. Bergeron’s blast from the high slot beat a screened Reimer up high to level the contest at 4-4 with less than a minute to go in regulation.
Canada’s Cody Franson scored twice, with Nazem Kadri and Phil Kessel, of the US, each had a goal and an assist for the Leafs, who were trying to overcome a 3-1 deficit.
Elsewhere in another match, Henrik Lundqvist turned aside 35 shots to post his second consecutive shutout as the New York Rangers beat Washington to record their first road victory in a Game seven and advance to the Eastern Conference’s second round.
Arron Asham opened the scoring in the first period before Taylor Pyatt and defenceman Michael Del Zotto made it 3-0 in the scored. Captain Ryan Callahan and Mats Zuccarello tallied in the third for the Rangers. AFP
