Boston, MA

Defenseman Wade Redden broke out of a postseason scoring slump, netting his first Stanley Cup Playoff goal in six seasons to lift the Bruins to a 4-1 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference quarterfinals at TD Garden.

The 35-year-old Redden also collected his first multi-point playoff performance in seven seasons for the Bruins, who also got goals from David Krejci, Nathan Horton and Johnny Boychuk.

"For Redden, he's getting an opportunity to come back and play in the NHL and he stepped up and got us back in the game and played huge," Bruins forward Milan Lucic said. "And we were all able to thrive off the energy."

Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask earned his eighth career playoff win with 19 saves while Krecji and Lucic added two assists apiece for the fourth-seeded Bruins, who can grab a 2-0 lead in the best-of-7 series with a win Saturday.

Goaltender James Reimer finished with 36 saves while center James van Riemsdyk provided the only offense for the Maple Leafs with a power-play goal in the first period.

Cody Franson's centering attempt was deflected to van Riemsdyk, who was all alone in the slot when he redirected the puck over the line for his 12th career playoff goal and first with Toronto.

Redden tied the count with 3:40 remaining in the first when he hit a slap shot past Reimer's glove hand and pad for his first postseason marker since May 28, 2007, when he played for the Senators.

The Bruins took a 2-1 lead after Horton buried a power-play goal with 12 seconds remaining in the opening frame.

In the second, Krejci's turnaround wrist shot from the slot off a feed from Lucic at 10:25 gave the Bruins a 3-1 lead before Boychuk made it a three-goal game with a tally at 15:44.

 

 

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Wade Redden Breaks Playoff Slump, Lifts Bruins to Game 1 Win