Leafs eager to avenge loss to Bruins
The Toronto Maple Leafs had their November momentum halted by a 2-0 loss to the Bruins in Boston Saturday night but they get a chance to gain instant revenge with the rematch Monday at the Air Canada Centre (7:30 p.m. ET).
The Leafs (7-10-4) shook off their October lethargy by playing their best hockey of the year, posting a 6-2-2 record in November before they appeared at Boston's TD Garden on Saturday night. You can't say they didn't have their chances in that game, maybe not numerically as they were outshot 37-22 by the Bruins, but they did have several golden opportunities to get on the board first in a game that was scoreless for more than 56 minutes.
Shawn Matthias was particularly frustrated by Boston netminder Tuukka Rask, who stopped him on three breakaway attempts. The Bruins' Zdeno Chara broke the deadlock at 16:17 of the period, followed by a Brad Marchand empty-netter that produced the final score.
James Reimer was responsible for keeping the Leafs in the game with another strong goaltending performance but the Leafs couldn't find a way to solve Rask, who also benefited from a couple of shots that struck goal-posts.
The Bruins (10-8-1) are putting a stronger emphasis on defence and look to again put the clamps on the Leafs at the Air Canada Centre. Boston has won three of its last four games.
"That's something we can certainly build on, understanding that if we're stingy, we're going to get that much better of a chance to win," Bruins coach Claude Julien told reporters.
Seven points separate second-place Ottawa and last-place Toronto in what is shaping up to be a competitive Atlantic Division.
"It's early in the season and everybody wants to win and we need to stay focused and it's pretty much right away when you win a game, you've got to focus on the next one," Boston defenceman Zdeno Chara told reporters Saturday. "Little things make a difference in a game."
Since losing 12 of its first 14 games (2-8-4), Toronto has won five of its last seven contests as the clubs begins a three-game homestand.
Bergeron boosting Bruins
Patrice Bergeron (seven goals, 19 points) is riding a seven-game point streak and has three goals and five assists during that span. The centre is also the top producer on the NHL's best power-play unit (33.9 per cent) with five goals and seven assists. Boston goaltender Rask (6-7-1, 2.95 goals against average, .896 save percentage) is expected to get the call after recording his second shutout of the season Saturday as he tries to allow fewer than three goals in back-to-back games for only the second time this season.
Kadri best forward: Babcock
Toronto is near the bottom of the NHL in scoring at 2.19 goals per game, although it has picked up the pace a bit of late with 13 in its last five contests. The Maple Leafs need more production from Nazem Kadri, who has only two goals (eight points) despite entering Sunday fourth in the league with 84 shots on goal. But coach Mike Babcock loves the play of his centre. "This is my two cents on Naz: He's been, in my opinion, the best forward on our team," Babcock told FOX Sports. "He competes every night, he's in on all the chances, he generates a ton. He's a way better player than I expected.
Overtime
- Bruins RW Loui Eriksson (team-high nine goals, 18 points) and LW Brad Marchand (eight goals, 14 points) each have four-game point streaks.
- LW James van Riemsdyk and RW Joffrey Lupul lead Toronto with seven goals apiece.
- Boston has the worst penalty-killing unit in the NHL at 72.5 per cent.
