Thoughts and Ideas on about the game tonight.

I think this is has to be a statement game all around. Toronto is no push over like last year. They can skate, fight and score. By all means not a give me points for the Bruins. Go Bruins GO!!!

It's just another game.  The "statement game" and the "revenge game" and the "label game" are all over played and over hyped by the media.  They're playing Toronto, a team that has three guys who can score, three guys that can find and a whole bunch of filler in between. 

And their goaltending is pitiful.

It's 100% possible that the B's lose tonight, simply because it's a hockey game. 

I won't be feeling any Game 7 pressure tonight, hoping that they B's do this or that or "make a statement".  I'm going to sit back in my new recliner and enjoy watching a hockey game.

In response to Not-A-Shot's comment:

 

It's just another game.  The "statement game" and the "revenge game" and the "label game" are all over played and over hyped by the media.  They're playing Toronto, a team that has three guys who can score, three guys that can find and a whole bunch of filler in between. 

And their goaltending is pitiful.

It's 100% possible that the B's lose tonight, simply because it's a hockey game. 

I won't be feeling any Game 7 pressure tonight, hoping that they B's do this or that or "make a statement".  I'm going to sit back in my new recliner and enjoy watching a hockey game.

 

I wouldn't go that far. I actually think their goaltending has been adequate for them this year.

 

No, it is not a statement game (unless you are a Leaf fan) but based on the Buds almost blowing a very winnable game last night against the Baby Sens I say they should be ripe for an a**whopping.....

In response to jmwalters' comment:

Right on!

I feel a goal explosion coming on for the Bruins. It was there for a while in Washington, but fizzed out.

A 7-8 goalada night soon.

In response to Wheatskins' comment:

Has to happen eventually and the Leafs are just the defense challenged team to help it along.....just stay away from McClaren's fists...

In response to Chowdahkid-'s comment:

Adequate is the perfect word to describe how the Leafs goalies have played.

This post has been removed.

I'd say Reimer has been better than adequate. 9 wins in 12 starts. His GAA is 2.57 but his save pctg is 921. Faces a lot of shots but stops a lot too. I'm sitting him on my fantasy team tonight, but he has done well thus far.

In response to lambda13's comment:

He's still prone to giving up the stinkers though Lam. Leafs tending is still sketchy to these eyes.

Leafs 3rd game in 4 nights. Big advantage for Bruins here.

leafs' 

knuckles will be sore. Mcclaren d stroyed some rookie last night.

In response to dezaruchi's comment:

I don't disagree, Rask is great, but he had a stinker too.

It's just another game.  The "statement game" and the "revenge game" and the "label game" are all over played and over hyped by the media.  They're playing Toronto, a team that has three guys who can score, three guys that can find and a whole bunch of filler in between. 

And their goaltending is pitiful.

It's 100% possible that the B's lose tonight, simply because it's a hockey game. 

I won't be feeling any Game 7 pressure tonight, hoping that they B's do this or that or "make a statement".  I'm going to sit back in my new recliner and enjoy watching a hockey game.

 

I wouldn't go that far. I actually think their goaltending has been adequate for them this year.

 

[/QUOTE]

I'd actually say that it's the only reason they are where they are. I'd say it's great goaltending, because their D is very suspect. 

I do agree that this isn't a Statement Game. It's just another in a 48 game schedule. Right now there is no real animosity between the 2 teams. The Leafs fans want to beat the Bruins for 2 reasons. They see the Bruins as the best team in the East and that is what they have to measure themselves against. Plus they want to beat the Bruins to show that they won the Kessel trade. That is foolish because it doesn't matter, of course. We won the Cup. I think the Bruins just look at the Leafs as a place to get 2 points.  

The callers on the Talk Radio are all about fighting, if the Bruins "want to play it that way". "Buffalo did it to them, and we will too" sort of thing. My guess is that there won't be much of it. Neither team can afford to waste the time or energy. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ok maybe statement not the word to use at this point in time, but a win by the leafs gives them a huge mind set seeing how they fared against us last year. Leafs playing back to back to not a sure win for the Bruins just look at Montreal the other night. Bruins need this win to get their mojo back and please stay out of the penalty box tonight. Looch and Chara no stupid penalties!! that plays into the leafs hand.

In response to lambda13's comment:

Lam, no goalies are perfect but some are more prone to imperfection than others. Reimer almost managed to lose last night as he seemed to be fighting the puck for much of the game. He will need to show me much better consistency before I'll put my trust in his skills but then again,I'm not Brian Burke.  

In response to Ramz's comment:

Back-to-back games after your team has had 2 days rest is not nearly as taxing as back-to-back games after your team has had only 1 days rest. Lots of teams win games under such scenarios.

While the Leafs might actually win tonight (doubt and hope not), betting against teams that are playing their 3rd game in 4 nights, with the 3rd game being a back-to-back game (and the other team is not), is one of the better bets you can make in hockey.

As much as it is played out, it seems impossible not to watch "the trade" showdown whenever these teams play.  

Hope that Seguin and Hamilton have big nights, and Kessel doesn't, so we can continue to tease our Toronto counterparts.

It's also funny when Rask does well.  There's so much to thank the Leafs for...

In response to Klaas' comment:

 

In response to Ramz's comment:

 

Ok maybe statement not the word to use at this point in time, but a win by the leafs gives them a huge mind set seeing how they fared against us last year. Leafs playing back to back to not a sure win for the Bruins just look at Montreal the other night. Bruins need this win to get their mojo back and please stay out of the penalty box tonight. Looch and Chara no stupid penalties!! that plays into the leafs hand.

 

Back-to-back games after your team has had 2 days rest is not nearly as taxing as back-to-back games after your team has had only 1 days rest. Lots of teams win games under such scenarios.

 

While the Leafs might actually win tonight (doubt and hope not), betting against teams that are playing their 3rd game in 4 nights, with the 3rd game being a back-to-back game (and the other team is not), is one of the better bets you can make in hockey.

 

Lets hope so. I live just outside Toronto and I"m hearing bring on the Bruins already!

 

Not a statement game!?

My wife will be wearing her Leafs stuff and whooping it up when the Buds score...I will try to temper my joy because you know the saying, "Happy wife, happy life".

It would be nice to see the Bs score a couple of quick ones...then beat down the Orrs, MacLarens, etc when they try to push back...score a couple more goals...chase Reimer/Scrivens in the second period...quiet the TSN guys a bit...and hammer out a 5-1 victory.

Is that too much to ask?

In response to Davinator's comment:

The B's absolutely embarrassed this team a few times last year. No way the Buds are not looking for revenge tonight......

It'll be interesting to see if the B's play smart and angry tonight after being poked by CJ. There is no doubt the Leafs are not the Laffs anymore. I'd really enjoy it if the B's started abusing some defenses again. Tonight would be a perfect spot for it to happen. It starts from the back out though, The entire D corps has been uncharacteristically soft for a bit now.

Prediction 5-2 B's

In response to seobrien's comment:

I thought it was interesting when I was watching Bob McKenzie on TSN last night say that the Leafs record is identical(after 23-24gms) to last year's quick start and he is reserving judgement on just how much they have improved. Toronto media has be teased for years...

Looks like Pandolfo is going to replace Bourque on the third line. This suggests CJ is more worried about shoring up that line's defence than trying to spark them offensively. Jay is not the long term answer, though.

In response to Davinator's comment:

It's funny, I saw that last night, too. This is the exact point where the Leafs went into their tailspin this year. From watching them, I do see a different team this year as opposed to past versions. I think they can and will end their playoff drought this year. They seem to be skating better and Carlyle certainly has them playing in a more sound structure. No more wide open entrance to all comers at their blue line. With that said, if the B's started to point them back into Laffs territory tonight, that would be just fine with me.