A controversial goal involving John Tavares proved to be a turning point as the Boston Bruins fell to the Toronto Maple Leafs in a closely contested game.
Bruins defenseman Nikita Zadorov was assessed a five-minute major penalty for boarding after hitting Tavares from behind late in the second period.
The incident immediately changed momentum, but Boston coach Marco Sturm opted not to bench Zadorov after serving the penalty.
According to reports, Zadorov remained part of the rotation, which was a sign of the coach’s confidence in his player despite the call-up.
The Bruins took the lead earlier in the match after Elias Lindholm opened the scoring, but the penalty proved costly.
Toronto took advantage of the power play, with Max Domi scoring shortly afterwards to change the direction of the game.
Boston struggled to respond, finishing 0 for 4 on the power play in what became a deciding factor in the 2 vs. 1 result.
The Leafs were even more energized after the incident, with their players’ physical response helping to shift the pace.
