Bruins look flat as Gustavsson and Maple Leafs shutout B's 2-0

In his first game back from heart surgery, Toronto Maple Leafs rookie netminder Jonas Gustavsson turned aside 25 shots to record his first career shutout as the Leafs beat the B's 2-0. At the other end of the ice, Tuukka Rask (29 saves) looked sharp all night except for a soft goal by Tomas Kaberle in the second period, but couldn't get any help in the offensive zone tonight. The Bruins looked like a team that played back-to-back games as they were flat from the opening face-off and just could not seem to get anything going offensively.

The Maple Leafs got on the board first 2:24 into the second period when Tomas Kaberle put a shot on goal from the left circle. Tuukka Rask seemed to be in position to make the save, but somehow the puck trickled through his legs for the 1-0 Toronto lead.

Jason Blake made it 2-0 when he roofed a shot from the slot that got past a diving Adam McQuaid and goalie Tuukka Rask with 10:17 left in the third period.

Things got a little interesting with just under 7 minutes remaining when Johnny Boychuk lined up Matt Stajan for a BIG open ice hit. The Maple Leafs took exception to what looked like a clean hit and a  5 on 5 scrum ensued. No real punches were thrown and the Bruins ended up on the power play after Alexei Ponikarovsky was tagged with a roughing call for his actions during the altercation. Michael Ryder was whistled for a boarding call just a few minutes later and it looked as if a powder keg was about to erupt, but cooler heads (or a lack of emotion) prevailed.

Notes:

- I thought Johnny Boychuk's hit was clean. He only left his feet after the initial contact . Stajan got caught with his head down in the neutral zone and unfortunately in the path of a big kid who is trying to make an impression at the NHL level. You decide:

- Mike Komisarek always acts his toughest when he is being held back by two linesmen.

- Derek Morris missed the game with an undisclosed injury.

- When Andrew Ference is logging 28:22 of ice time, you know you have injury problems.

- Adam McQuaid was a -2 with 2 shots and 2 blocked shots. He got formally welcomed to the NHL when he was on the receiving end of a big hit by Colton Orr on his first NHL shift.

- Byron Bitz, was a -2 tonight and is -7 over his last 4 games.

- I wouldn't be doing my job if I didn't tell you how Phil Kessel did: 21:48 TOI, 4 shots, 3 give-aways, 4 for 4 on face-offs, even.

- The Bruins need to put this game behind them and focus on Monday's game against the Senators in Ottawa.

- The only remedy for a loss like that is some good old fashioned Phil Kessel mockery: Phil Kessel is softer than an 85 year old man watching a Rosie O'Donnell nude scene. For more Kessel mockery follow me on Twitter (@cupofchowdah).