Bruins vs Maple Leafs Preview: Atlantic Showdown

Just the Facts:

Game Time: 7:00 PM, Air Canada Centre.

TV Broadcast: CBC, NHLN-US, NESN.

Radio Broadcast: 98.5 The Sports Hub

Rival SB Nation Site: Pension Plan Puppets

Season Record: Bruins: 4-5-0, 5th in Atlantic Division | Maple Leafs 3-3-1, 6th in Atlantic Division

Leafs Lines:

James van Riemsdyk - Tyler Bozak - Phil Kessel

Joffrey Lupul- Nazem Kadri - Daniel Winnik

Leo Komarov - Mike Santorelli - David Clarkson

Matt Frattin- Peter Holland - Richard Panik

Dion Phaneuf - Stephane Robidas

Jake Gardiner - Roman Polak

Rielly - Cody Franson (and Percy)

Goaltenders: James Reimer, Jonathan Bernier

Bruins Lines:

Brad Marchand - Patrice Bergeron - Reilly Smith

Milan Lucic - David Krejci - Seth Griffith

Chris Kelly - Carl Soderberg - Loui Eriksson

Daniel Paille - Gregory Campbell - Simon Gagne

Dennis Seidenberg - Dougie Hamilton

Torey Krug - Adam McQuaid

Matt Bartkowski - Zach Trotman

Goaltenders: Tuukka Rask, Niklas Svedberg

Game Notes:

• A 3-2 loss to the New York Islanders reminded us of something it seems the Bruins have struggled with since the dawn of time: full effort early in the game.  "Yeah, it took us two periods to start playing and then the third period was the period we all liked," said Claude Julien for probably the millionth time.
• Things are looking bleak on the defensive front with Zdeno Chara out 4-6 weeks with a torn PCL. At least it's early in the season and this could give other defenders a chance to prove themselves. Silver linings, people. Silver linings. Tuukka Rask really has to start being Tuukka Rask again.
• The Bruins are 5th in the Atlantic Division and the Leafs are 6th. Hopefully this stirs up some Game 7 -like rivalry again. Or maybe the Bruins will look alive in the first two periods. Or something.

NEVER FORGET:

Not that anyone forgot about this...

Last Game in Fancy Stats: