Bruins vs. Leafs Preview: Could the Bruins re-take number one?

Just the facts:

Game Time: 7:00 PM, TD Garden, Boston, MA. TV Broadcast: New England Sports Network, TSN. Radio Broadcast: 98.5 The Sports Hub

The other side's SB Nation site: Pension Plan Puppets

Records: Bruins (14-3-3, fourth in the East) vs Maple Leafs (15-9-0, fifth in the East)

Get tickets here: Boston Bruins Tickets

Projected Leafs lines:

Kulemin - McClement - Grabovski
MacArthur - Kadri - Komarov
van Riemsdyk - Bozak - Kessel
Goon 1 - Goon 2 - Goon 3

Franson - Fraser
Phaneuf - Holzer
Gunnarsson - Kostka

Reimer

Projected Bruins lines:

Marchand - Bergeron - Seguin
Lucic - Krejci - Horton
Paille - Kelly - Peverley
Bourque - Campbell - Thornton

Chara - Boychuk
Seidenberg - Hamilton
Ference - McQuaid

Khudobin

Preview:

I don't know what it is but I just don't have a good feeling about this game. I know, I know, Boston's recent well-documented dominance of the Maple Leafs, ha ha Phil Kessel, etc, but something just seems off today. Hopefully it's just me.

The Leafs are fifth in the East right now (what?) and their two leading scorers are Nazem Kadri and James van Riemsdyk (double what?) and Phil Kessel has a mere six goals in 24 games. Ha. Honestly, it's weird to see Toronto rolling three lines that are at least somewhat competitive and a fourth line consisting entirely of dudes who are mostly just out there to punch faces and take names (Colton Orr, Frazer McLaren, David Steckel).

But seriously FIFTH IN THE EAST who are these Leafs and what did they do with those lovable losers we love to hate?? They've won three in a row, are 7-3-0 in their last 10. Their power play is converting at a 17.6% clip, not too much better than the Bruins' 15.9%. Their PK is serviceable too, killing off 82% of penalties against.

On Boston's side, looks like Anton Khudobin gets the start tonight. I just got stuck looking at league standings. How is the northeast division a thing right now? REGARDLESS. Looks like the third and fourth lines will be the same as last game, with Jay Pandolfo the odd man out. But hey, this is the team Chris Bourque actually scored against last time. Can he give us a repeat performance? (Brb, I'm going to go sob quietly about nepotism and upgrading the third line.)

Never forget:

Aw yeah the milkman's son!