Bruins forward Nathan Horton was quickly forgiven by the Garden crowd after Tuesday night's follies by tying up the game Thursday night and igniting a three goal period for the Bruins at TD Garden.
It didn't take much to excite the crowd and the team. Less than two minutes into the game, Shawn Thornton, who had gone 17 straight games without a fighting major, dropped his gloves with former Bruin Colton Orr.
However, the result of Thornton pulling Orr's jersey over his head didn't create an immediate result, and Toronto's David Steckel let a wrister fly from the top of the right circle, and it found its way through Tim Thomas to put the Maple Leafs up 1-0.
But that woke up the bear.
9:23 into the period and Matt Frattin was sent to the box for interference. Chara found an open lane, shot the puck, and Horton was there for the rebound, tying the game at one a piece for his second goal in three games.
The power play magic continued and with 3:55 left in the period, after Lupul left the ice for tripping, Chara fired a one timer from the right circle to give the Bruins a 2-1 lead, courtesy of an Andrew Ference pass from the blue line.
That made the Bruins 2-for-2 on the power play.
The scoring didn't stop, and Chris Kelly added the third goal with 2:11 left in the period, giving the Bruins a 3-1 lead going into the first intermission.
Andrew Ference has three assists on the night, tying his career high for points and assists in a game.