Toronto at Boston - Oct 27

[bluemeanie]

Here we go again...
Bruins tonight, on Leafs TV. Hopefully, the Leafs can benefit from having a few days off. God forbit it should go to another shoot out, but if it does... Quinn, pleeeaase don't insert Old Glue Skates Allison on the SO. Telly is in net tonight, hopefully he can repeat his solid start.

GAME: Toronto Maple Leafs (5-2-2) at Boston Bruins (4-5-2).

TIME: Thursday, 7 p.m. EDT.

The Boston Bruins, struggling defensively, look for only their second win in seven games when they host the streaking Toronto Maple Leafs.

Taking on the Leafs for the second time in four days, the Bruins are 1-3-2 following a three-game winning streak.

The Bruins have managed to earn two points in their last two games, Monday's 5-4 shootout loss to Toronto and Wednesday's 4-3 overtime defeat to Carolina.

"We're playing well and just having trouble closing them out," defenseman Brian Leetch said Wednesday. "We've just got to get better as a team at learning how to win."

Leetch and Brad Boyes both had a goal and an assist in Wednesday's loss.

The Bruins have allowed three goals or more in each of their last six games. They've surrendered 41 goals in 11 games, third-most in the Eastern Conference.

Toronto, meanwhile, has won five of six and hasn't played since Monday's win over the Bruins when Eric Lindros scored the only goal in the shootout. Ed Belfour made 49 saves and three more in the shootout to lead the Maple Leafs.

"It's just crazy," the 40-year-old Belfour said. "An emotional roller-coaster. One minute you're a slug, the next minute you're a hero."

The fans chanted "Eddie! Eddie! after Belfour made a series of impressive saves in overtime and the shootout. He struggled in the second period, blowing a 2-0 lead.

"It's a great feeling to know that even when you're not having a great game, when you give up two goals you normally don't, they are still supporting you," Belfour said.

Lindros has six goals and one assist in his last seven games.

STANDINGS: Maple Leafs - 12 points, 2nd place (tied), 2 PB, Northeast Division. Bruins - 10 points, 5th place, 4 PB, Northeast Division.

TEAM LEADERS: Maple Leafs - Lindros, 7 goals; Bryan McCabe, 12 assists and 15 points; Wade Belak, 28 PIM. Bruins - Glen Murray, 6 goals; Joe Thornton, 10 assists; Murray and Thornton, 12 points; Hal Gill, 23 PIM.

SPECIAL TEAMS (through Oct. 25): Maple Leafs - Power play: 29.6 percent (19 for 64), 1st in NHL. Penalty killing: 86.2 percent (50 for 58 ), 7th. Bruins - Power play: 16.9 percent (12 for 71), 16th. Penalty killing: 79.1 percent (53 for 67), 23rd.

GOALTENDERS: Maple Leafs - Belfour (4-2-2, 3.37 GAA); Mikael Tellqvist (1-0-0, 2.00). Bruins - Andrew Raycroft (3-4-2, 3.34); Hannu Toivonen (1-1-0, 4.49).

SEASON SERIES: Maple Leafs, 1-0.

LAST MEETING: Monday; Maple Leafs 5-4, SO. At Toronto, Boyes, Patrick Leahy, Ian Moran and Murray scored in the loss for the Bruins

ROAD/HOME RECORDS: Maple Leafs - 2-0-1 on the road; Bruins - 1-2-0 at home.

[Newfie John]

Telly is in, hopefully he'll do the same thing he did in Philly. There's no doubt in my mind that he should have a solid game. It's the guys in front of him we have to worry about. They've really got to tighten up the screws defensively.

[leaferfan87]

We are more rested than Boston and I hope that will be our main advantage. I hope that the defensive coverage is better tonight and we don't have so many mind lapses. Hope to see another great game from the kids (Stajan, Steen, Wellwood etc) and of course Tellqvist.

[Amoroq]

Am I the only one who has noticed this over the years? The Leafs as a whole seem to play better on the D when their 2nd stringer is in net? Lets hope the trend continues tonight. Go Leafs Tv Go ;)

[bluemeanie]

Am I the only one who has noticed this over the years? The Leafs as a whole seem to play better on the D when their 2nd stringer is in net? Lets hope the trend continues tonight. Go Leafs Tv Go ;)

This is true. It's probably true for most teams. You know that there's an element of rust on the BUG, so you tighten up defensively. But I bet you my last piece of sushi here that they still give up more shots on goal then Boston does. =]

[Amoroq]

This is true. It's probably true for most teams. You know that there's an element of rust on the BUG, so you tighten up defensively. But I bet you my last piece of sushi here that they still give up more shots on goal then Boston does. =]No thanks, the only fish I like and I don't have it often is halibut and its fully cooked and smothered in a tasty beer batter ;)

[bluemeanie]

No thanks, the only fish I like and I don't have it often is halibut and its fully cooked and smothered in a tasty beer batter ;)

Doesn't matter anyhow... I ate that piece of sushi like over an hour ago. But you mentioned the magic word 'beer', and that's my queue to go home now.

Go Leafs Go.

[bluemeanie]

Well, I owe Amo a piece of digested Sushi I guess. As soon as we gave up the first goal I had a hunch that we were'nt going to win this one. The Leafs did exactly what Quinn asked them to do - the forwards were coming back to help on the D game, and they managed to outshoot a team for a change. Unfortunatly, as a result we lost our offensive punch. Both teams played a smart game, we had a fair amount of 5 on 5, and the Leafs particularily didn't give up any dumb penaltys. Telly played a good game, having no real chance on the goals he let in. The Tolvechioliowoski kid in the other net was pretty impressive. Scratch this one up to an off night, and adjusting to a different game plan. At least we can take away the fact that the Leafs pretty much dominated the game.

Wow. What a tight division. Boston inched two points closer to us. Both Montreal and Ottawa walked away with points last night, Montreal with one and Ottawa with two thanks to Spezzilla! It's going to be a long season.