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Preview: Bruins head to Toronto for a showdown with the Leafs

Saturday night hockey in Toronto? NOT BAD.

By Dan.Ryan
Toronto Maple Leafs v Boston Bruins - Game Seven Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images

Just the facts

When: Tonight, 7 PM

Where: Scotiabank Arena - Toronto, ON

How to follow: NESN, 98.5 The Sports Hub, NHL Network

Rival SBN site: Pension Plan Puppets

Know your enemy

  • 28-13-2, 58 points, 2nd in the Atlantic Division
  • Mitch Marner: 16G-41A-57PTS; John Tavares: 29G-21A-50PTS; Morgan Rielly: 13G-33A-46PTS
  • Frederik Andersen: 20-9-1, 2.50 GAA, .923 save percentage

Game notes

  • It’s a big one, folks! The Bruins head into Toronto four points behind the Leafs for second in the Atlantic, with the Leafs having a game in hand. While everyone in the Atlantic is playing for second with Tampa on a torrid pace, the home-ice advantage provided by finishing second over third would be huge. Yes, it’s still early. But it’d be a big win for the Bruins, who are coming off of a loss to a good Washington team.
  • The Leafs are 2-3 in their last five games, winning their last time out against New Jersey on Thursday.
  • This is the last regular season meeting between the two teams. The Bruins won two out of the first three, but both of those games were at home. The Leafs beat the Bruins, 4-2, in Toronto back around American Thanksgiving.
  • You remember, of course, the last time these two teams played: the Bruins soundly beat the Leafs at the Garden, but the game was remembered for Zach Hyman’s cheapshot on Charlie McAvoy. Leafs fans decided that Chris Wagner trying to hit Morgan Rielly after was just as bad (it wasn’t), so there are still some hard feelings floating about between the two teams.
  • Speaking of Charlie McAvoy, it looked like he would play tonight as of yesterday. As this preview is being written, there’s nothing official, but things are trending toward McAvoy returning to the lineup.
  • Tuukka Rask will start for the Bruins tonight. Per the team on Twitter, Rask is 4-0 with a 1.23 GAA and .959 save percentage in his last four starts. NOT BAD.
  • Speaking of goalies, the Leafs had hoped to get Frederik Andersen back today. However, per the team, Andersen didn’t skate today due to flu-like symptoms, and the Leafs recalled Kasimir Kaskisuo from the AHL. The Leafs will instead be forced to choose between Koskisuo and Michael Hutchinson.

See ya tonight!