DeBrusk, Coyle score in the shootout, leading the Bruins to a 3-2 win over the Maple Leafs

BOSTON (AP) — Jake DeBrusk and Charlie Coyle scored in the shootout and the Boston Bruins beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 3-2 on Thursday night.

DeBrusk and Paval Zacha scored in regulation for the Bruins, who lead the Eastern Conference with a 9-0-1 record. Jeremy Swayman made 33 saves.

Mitchell Marner and Auston Matthews scored for the Maple Leafs. Ilya Samsonov stopped 38 shots.

Toronto forward William Nylander extended his season-opening, franchise-record point streak to 10 games. He was credited with an assist on the Maple Leafs goal that tied the game in the second period after Boston jumped out to a 2-0 lead.

The Bruins, who have not lost in regulation this season, opened the scoring at 18:51 of the first when Charlie Carlo centered a pass from the right circle and Zacha finished in the slot for his third goal in as many games. Boston defenseman Mason Lohrei, a 22-year-old making his NHL debut, also was credited with an assist.

Boston doubled its lead in the opening minutes of the second period when Marchand had the first chance and DeBrusk scored his first goal of the season.

“I’ve had a slow start in my career before, but it was a sense of relief,” DeBrusk said.

Boston head coach Jim Montgomery said DeBrusk’s performance could get the player back on track.

“He hummed all night,” Montgomer said. “That was the JD we saw last year. Sometimes all it takes is for that first one to go in and that monkey is off your back and you start to become the player that you are.

The momentum then shifted and Toronto tied the score at 2 heading into the third. Marner made a nice move to free himself before getting off a wrister, putting Toronto on the board at 6:31 of the second. The tying goal came 63 seconds later when a turnover in Boston’s zone led to Matthews sending a shot past Swayman, now 5-0 on the season.

“The way we bounced back from those second-period goals bodes well for the future,” Swayman said. “The two quick goals can disrupt the momentum, but it is important for us to see ourselves close.”

The Bruins went to overtime for the third time in four games and made quick work of the Maple Leafs (5-3-2) in the shootout as Swayman stopped both shots he faced.

“See the puck, stop the puck,” Swayman said when asked about his mentality during a shootout. “All these guys are so good and in the NHL for a reason. I wanted to make sure I got good depth and could square the puck.”

Maple Leafs defenseman Timothy Liljegren was ruled out for a return due to a lower-body injury he suffered on a hit by Marchand late in the first period. After the game, Toronto head coach Sheldon Keefe is expected to miss significant time.

Boston played its first game without No. 1 defenseman Charlie McAvoy, who was suspended four games by the NHL for an illegal check to the head of Florida’s Oliver Ekman-Larsson during Monday’s game. McAvoy was one of three regular players on the blue line that the Bruins did not have, making fill-ins like rookie Lohrei’s performance even more impressive.

“It’s good for your self-confidence when they keep calling your number to go there,” Lohrei said.

NEXT ONE

Maple Leafs: Host Buffalo on Saturday night.

Bruins: Saturday night at Detroit.