The Montreal Canadiens defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs 3-2 on Saturday to force a seventh and deciding game in their first-round playoff series.
Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe had his challenge for goalie interference denied, which put Toronto back down a man. Toronto star Mitch Marner then fired a clearing attempt over the glass to gift the home side a 5-on-3 power play for 1:41.
Down to five defencemen after Jake Muzzin left with an apparent groin injury in the second, Spezza breathed life into Toronto at 11:35 when his shot went in off the stick of Montreal defenceman Jeff Petry before Matthews hit the post a couple minutes later.The Leafs continued to push, and Brodie fired his first goal of 2021 off Petry’s skate and past Price with 3:11 left in regulation before being mobbed by teammates inside a stunned Bell Centre.
Campbell, who was jeered by the crowd early and often, made big stops on Toffoli, Shea Weber, Nick Suzuki and Eric Staal, with the Leafs firmly on their heels. Phillip Danault had another good chance with the Canadiens coming in waves, and things went from bad to worse for Toronto — the only good news was the score remained 0-0 — when Muzzin departed with the trainer.