Maple Leafs extend series to Game 6, on home ice Knies scored in OT to left Maple Leafs over Bruins

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In Boston, the Toronto Maple Leafs faced elimination on Tuesday night in Game 5 with the Bruins.“You want to build positive momentum your own way,” Maple Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe said. “And yeah, you want to make them be uncomfortable. You want to make them have to pack up and head out to Toronto.”

The two teams skated to a 1-1 tie through regulation, forcing extra time.

In the first extra session, John Tavares skated the puck down the right boards, and cut left to the net where he tried a one-handed shot that bounced to the opposite side of the crease

Matthew Knies poked the loose puck home at 2:26 of overtime for a 2-1 win to the Leafs.

“That was a pretty incredible play by [Tavares] there to drive the net and make that play happen,” Knies said. “It all started with him, and then it kind of just fell in my stick and I was fortunate to bury that one and send us back home.”

The win staved off an early off season, and makes the series 3-2 in favor of the Bruins headed to Toronto on Thursday.

“We weren’t good enough,” Bruins coach Jim Montgomery said. “Just simple as that. Toronto came out ready to play. They took it to us. We weren’t ready to match their desperation.”

Joseph Woll made 28 saves in the win.

“It’s pretty special. I mean, I’m having the time of my life out there,” Woll said. “[TD Garden is] a place I’ve played a lot of big games, and to come in here and play the Bruins in an elimination game is pretty special. So I thought from the drop of the puck, our team had a different level of urgency and it made me confident back there.”

The Maple Leafs took a 1-0 lead in the opening stanza, on a goal by Jake McCabe at 5:33, scoring off a shot through a maze of players and sticks from the point.

“They get a goal decently early off the face-off after I lost it,” Boston’s Trent Frederic said. “That gives them momentum. Anytime you get the first goal, it helps.”

Frederic replied for the Bruins at 13:54, tying the game, 1-1.  He scored after a heavy forecheck below the goal line.

“That’s just the way it plays out sometimes,” Bruins captain Brad Marchand said. “The hardest [win] to get is that last one, and you know, like I said, they came and they left it all out there. That’s just — we need to be better. That’s all it is.”

Jeremy Swayman made 31 saves in the loss.