SB Nation Boston - Bruins vs. Maple Leafs: B's Shuffle Through Leafs, 6-2https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48863/boston-fave.png2011-10-20T23:50:35-04:00http://boston.sbnation.com/rss/stream/22673682011-10-20T23:50:35-04:002011-10-20T23:50:35-04:00Bruins vs. Maple Leafs: B's Find Offense in 6-2 Ousting of Leafs
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<p>There was no suspense in the third period of this game as the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.stanleycupofchowder.com/">Bruins</a> left little room for it in the 6-2 win over the previously undefeated <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.pensionplanpuppets.com/">Toronto Maple Leafs</a> Thursday night at TD Garden.</p>
<p>Four different players had three-point nights to boost the confidence in the locker room and try and help the consistency that coach Claude Julien has been trying to instill in the irregular until.</p>
<p>Once again, the Bruins allowed the first goal of the game just 7:29 into the game, when <span>David Steckel</span> wristed a filthy shot past <span>Tim Thomas</span>, drawing first blood.</p>
<p>However, that lead didn't last long, and the Bruins followed up with three goals of their own in the first period, two of which were on the power play.</p>
<p><span>Nathan Horton</span> scored the first one with 9:28 left in the first period, off a rebounded <span>Zdeno Chara</span> shot. That was Horton's second goal in three games, and it tied the game at one a piece.</p>
<p>Chara then kept the game rolling, scoring his own power play goal at 16:05, one-timing his shot from the right circle over Toronto netminder <span>Jonas Gustavsson</span>. <span>Chris Kelly</span> made it three just a minute later, pounding the puck in after the third attempt in front of the net.</p>
<p>"Yeah, I felt pretty good," Gustavsson said. "I mean, we know they were going to come out hard so I was prepared for a lot of shots, but I guess they got a couple of rebounds there. So they got a two-goal lead, but that’s the way it is sometimes."</p>
<p>The Bruins slowed down a bit in the second period, with neither team putting up nor yielding a goal. But that's not to say neither team had any chances.</p>
<p>Tim Thomas came up big for the Bruins, stopping a breakaway chance from <span>Mikhail Grabovski</span> who was just coming out of the penalty box. The Bruins defense was caught off guard, and Grabovski had only Thomas to stop him. Luckily for the Bruins, they have a Vezina Trophy Winner on their team.</p>
<p>"Yeah. It was 4-on-3 then 4-on-4 then 5-on-4 and I lost track of how many people were coming out of the box, so I didn’t bang my stick to give my D any warning," Thomas said. "I kind of helped cause the breakaway, so I had extra motivation to stop that breakaway. I just really wanted to stop that one because I had kind of made a mistake beforehand."</p>
<p>Boston continued with the onslaught, putting up three more goals from Lucic, Bergeron and Seguin, while Toronto's Grabovski netted his second of the season.</p>
<p>"I just thought we looked more like our team tonight, again," head coach Claude Julien said. "We did that in Chicago, and I said the same thing. We’ve kind of been hit and miss so far this year as we come up with a good effort. I think right now the biggest challenge is to be able to follow that up Saturday with the same kind of effort."</p>
https://boston.sbnation.com/boston-bruins/2011/10/20/2504108/bruins-vs-maple-leafs-october-20-tyler-seguin-nathan-horton-nhl-newsBiz Jacobs2011-10-20T21:00:18-04:002011-10-20T21:00:18-04:00Bruins vs. Maple Leafs: B's Cool Down, But Stay Up 3-1 Over Leafs After Two Periods
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<p>The second period slowed down a bit for both teams, neither yielding a goal to the other. The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.stanleycupofchowder.com/">Bruins</a> are outshooting the Leafs 29-21 after two frames of play, but both have had their chances.</p>
<p>Once again, the period was plagued with penalties, each team responsible for three of their own. After the Bruins managed to score twice in the first period with the extra man, the scoring simmered down a bit.</p>
<p>The Leafs had the best opportunity of the period when, after <span>Mikhail Grabovski</span> left the penalty box, managed to penetrate the Bruins zone on a breakaway and had only Thomas in front of him.</p>
<p>But that was the problem--Thomas was in front of him.</p>
<p>Thomas made the save and preserved the two goal lead going into the third period.</p>
<p>The Bruins enter the final frame 1-0-0 when leading after two periods.</p>
https://boston.sbnation.com/boston-bruins/2011/10/20/2503887/bruins-vs-maple-leafs-october-20-penalties-Mikhail-Grabovski-Tim-Thomas-nhl-newsBiz Jacobs2011-10-20T20:08:02-04:002011-10-20T20:08:02-04:00Bruins vs. Maple Leafs: B's Explode Out Of The Gate, Lead 3-1
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<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.stanleycupofchowder.com/">Bruins</a> forward <span>Nathan Horton</span> 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.</p>
<p>It didn't take much to excite the crowd and the team. Less than two minutes into the game, <span>Shawn Thornton</span>, who had gone 17 straight games without a fighting major, dropped his gloves with former Bruin <span>Colton Orr</span>.</p>
<p>However, the result of Thornton pulling Orr's jersey over his head didn't create an immediate result, and Toronto's <span>David Steckel</span> let a wrister fly from the top of the right circle, and it found its way through <span>Tim Thomas</span> to put the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.pensionplanpuppets.com/">Maple Leafs</a> up 1-0.</p>
<p>But that woke up the bear.</p>
<p>9:23 into the period and <span>Matt Frattin</span> 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.</p>
<p>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 <span>Andrew Ference</span> pass from the blue line.</p>
<p>That made the Bruins 2-for-2 on the power play.</p>
<p>The scoring didn't stop, and <span>Chris Kelly</span> added the third goal with 2:11 left in the period, giving the Bruins a 3-1 lead going into the first intermission. </p>
<p>Andrew Ference has three assists on the night, tying his career high for points and assists in a game.</p>
https://boston.sbnation.com/boston-bruins/2011/10/20/2503666/bruins-vs-maple-leafs-october-20-nathan-horton-andrew-ference-nhl-newsBiz Jacobs2011-10-20T17:16:24-04:002011-10-20T17:16:24-04:00Bruins vs. Maple Leafs Preview: TV/Radio Info, Time, Location And More
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<p><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: normal; font-size: medium;"> </span></p>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" id="internal-source-marker_0.184601039160043">Event: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.stanleycupofchowder.com/">Boston Bruins</a> vs. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.pensionplanpuppets.com/">Toronto Maple Leafs</a></span><br><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Date/Time: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Thursday, October 20, 2011 - 7 p.m. EDT.</span><br><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Location: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">TD Garden (Capacity: 17,565), Boston, MA.</span><br><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Broadcast Info: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tuesday's game between the Bruins and Maple Leafs will be broadcast live on NESN. The game can also be heard on the 98.5 the Sports Hub Radio Network, with Dave Goucher providing play-by-play, and Bob Beers providing analysis.</span><br><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Last Time Out: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Anyone who saw last game knows how unforgettable it was—or how forgettable they wanted it to be. The Bruins racked up 82 PIM and took a 4-1 loss to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.canescountry.com/">Hurricanes</a>. That was the second loss to Carolina in just three games played. <span>Anthony Stewart</span> and <span>Joni Pitkanen</span> each picked up a goal and each had a goal in the first game against the Bruins as well. The B’s had a chance to get back into the game halfway through the third period when forward <span>Rich Peverley</span> cut Carolina’s lead in half with a goal on the power play. However, some untimely penalties to <span>Nathan Horton</span> and <span>Zdeno Chara</span> likely cost the Bruins the game.</span><br><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Storyline: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span>Phil Kessel</span>. That name has shown up around in Boston like a bad penny—it just won’t go away. Whether it was the deal to Toronto that allowed the Bruins to pick up the No. 2 overall draft pick <span>Tyler Seguin</span>, or the comments Kessel evidently made about wanting to leave Boston, his name has been dragged through mud by many Boston hockey enthusiasts.</span><br><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But it seems the joke is on them.</span><br><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Kessel enters tonight’s game as the top scorer in the NHL with six goals so far this season and nine points total. He resides on the top team in the division, the Toronto Maple Leafs, who currently sit just a point ahead of the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.diebytheblade.com/">Buffalo Sabres</a> in the standings. Even with the fiasco that unfolded at TD Garden on Tuesday, NHL talks have been about Kessel and his accomplishments so far this season.</span><br><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As for the Bruins, the lines have been completely revamped, and it’s going to be interesting to see how they all gel together. Tyler Seguin presumably joins the top line with <span>Milan Lucic</span> and <span>Chris Kelly</span> (if <span>David Krejci</span> does not come back for the game.) Nathan Horton has dropped from the first line and placed with <span>Patrice Bergeron</span> and <span>Brad Marchand</span>--a line that could really benefit from Horton if he decides to come out and play. </span><br><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Players To Watch: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">All of the above. It’s impossible to point out any one person (besides Kessel) to watch for this game. With the way things have been mixed up, all it might take is this quick jarr to kick start any player’s game. We can assume <span>Tim Thomas</span> will be in net for the Bruins and he has been notoriously good against Kessel’s shot. And of course, be wary if any Bruins are returning for this game. <span>Steven Kampfer</span> was cleared for contact and is considered a game time decision, along with David Krejci. <span>Adam McQuaid</span> seemed to have a setback in his recovery, so he’s still considered day-to-day. </span><br><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Prediction: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It’s going to be a close game. If these new lines forge together like they are supposed to, the first two lines especially are going to be dangerous. However, remember <span>Dion Phaneuf</span> stands between them and the goal, and he’s not a small guy. Maple Leafs, who are 4-0-1 this season will continue their season success at TD Garden. </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Final Score: Maple Leafs 3, Bruins 2.</span>
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https://boston.sbnation.com/boston-bruins/2011/10/20/2503494/bruins-vs-maple-leafs-october-20-preview-phil-kesselBiz Jacobs2011-10-20T15:46:51-04:002011-10-20T15:46:51-04:00Bruins Vs. Maple Leafs: David Krejci A Game-Time Decision
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<p>Boston Bruins forward David Krejci felt good during Thursday's morning skate, and is listed as a game-time decision when the Bruins host the Toronto Maple Leafs Thursday night at 7 p.m.</p> <p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.stanleycupofchowder.com/">Boston Bruins</a> forward <span>David Krejci</span> felt good during Thursday's morning skate, and is <a href="http://espn.go.com/boston/nhl/story/_/id/7127109/boston-bruins-david-krejci-game-time-decision-toronto-maple-leafs?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter">listed as a game-time decision</a> when the Bruins host the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.pensionplanpuppets.com/">Toronto Maple Leafs</a> Thursday night at 7 p.m.</p>
<p>Krejci has missed Boston's last three games with a midsection injury.</p>
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<p>"I'm not really sure yet, but I will go out there and give 100 percent and try to help the team win the game," Krejci said. "I feel pretty good. It was a good morning skate." </p>
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<p>Bruins coach Claude Julien ruled out defenseman <span>Adam McQuaid</span> for Thursday night's game, but said defenseman <span>Steven Kampfer</span> is "likely" to return to the lineup.</p>
<p>McQuaid has missed two straight games with a neck injury that is being treated like a concussion. He skated Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday but did not practice with the team Wednesday and did not participate in Thursday's morning skate.</p>
<p>Kampfer suffered a sprained MCL during a preseason game Sept. 29 and has not yet made his season debut.</p>
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<p>"It's been a while but I'm excited for it," Kampfer said of his return. "I'm ready to go and I feel good. I just need to go out there and play my game, keep it simple and help this team get two points."</p>
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https://boston.sbnation.com/boston-bruins/2011/10/20/2503283/bruins-vs-maple-leafs-david-krejci-a-game-time-decisionJay_King