Monday game preview: Boston Bruins at Toronto Maple Leafs
The Bruins' Brad Marchand has nine points in three games as he chases a scoring title
https://www.thestar.com/sports/leaf...iew-boston-bruins-at-toronto-maple-leafs.html
By Mark ZwolinskiSports reporter
Sun., March 19, 2017
AIR CANADA CENTRE
PUCK DROP: Monday, 7:30 p.m.
TV: TSN4
RADIO: TSN 1050
KEY PLAYERS
Marchand vs. Komarov
The Bruins’ Brad Marchand is at the peak of his powers — he was one of the best players at the World Cup of Hockey back in September, and is now in a tight race for the NHL scoring lead, a point behind Connor McDavid and Sidney Crosby. Marchand has nine points in his last three games, including three in a showdown with McDavid on Thursday. With 79 points, he is also the first Bruin with more than 70 points since the 2008-09 season. While the Leafs’ Leo Komarov isn’t his equal offensively, the two are among the league’s best agitators. The Komarov line, which includes Nazem Kadri and Connor Brown, should see plenty of Marchand.
NEED TO KNOW
The Bruins won five of six games before stumbling in Edmonton on Thursday, and are coming off three days of rest with a three-point lead on the Leafs for third place in the Atlantic Division . . . Toronto is in the last wild-card spot with 79 points but the Islanders (78) and Lightning, both of whom have played one game more, are lurking . . . Special teams should be in the spotlight Monday night: The Leafs had the league’s most efficient power play (23.6 per cent) through Saturday’s games, the Bruins were 10th (20.8); Boston was second on the penalty kill (85.4 per cent) with Toronto ninth (83.3) . . . Former Leaf Dominic Moore is one of Bruins’ key penalty killer. He had a shorthanded goal against Edmonton last week, his third of the season . . . The Bruins have plenty of firepower besides Marchand, with eight players in double figures in goals. Only Boston (Marchand, 37, and David Pastrnak, 31) and Pittsburgh (Crosby, 40, and Evgeni Malkin, 33) have two 30-goal scorers this season.
UP NEXT
Wednesday, at Columbus, 7 p.m.
Game Day: Bruins at Maple Leafs
By Lance Hornby, Toronto Sun
http://www.torontosun.com/2017/03/20/game-day-bruins-at-maple-leafs
BOSTON BRUINS at TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS
Monday, 7:30 p.m., Air Canada Centre
TV: TSN4; Radio: 1050 AM
THE BIG MATCHUP
Brad Marchand vs. Frederik Andersen
The hottest players on both teams, with Marchand battling for the NHL scoring lead and Andersen the backbone of the Leafs achieving points in nine of the past 12 games he has been in. Marchand has found that perfect balance of aggression and scoring that has put the Bruins back in the playoff race. He’s trying to become Boston’s first winner of an Art Ross since Bobby Orr, not counting Joe Thornton’s split season as a Shark.
Bruins, Maple Leafs meet in battle of playoff contenders
The Associated Press•Mar 19, 2017, 4:24 PM
http://sports.yahoo.com/news/bruins-maple-leafs-meet-battle-playoff-contenders-202430788--nhl.html
TORONTO --
The Boston Bruins have been looking over their shoulders at the Toronto Maple Leafs as the teams jockey for playoff spots and seedings.
The teams have a chance to meet face to face Monday night at the Air Canada Centre.
The Bruins (38-27-6) have 82 points in 71 games and the Maple Leafs (32-23-15) have 79 points in 70 games. Both were in playoff spots entering Sunday.
The Bruins are 12-4-0 since Bruce Cassidy took over as coach and they have four points of a possible six in their past three games, all on the road.
They are still smarting, however, from a 7-4 loss to the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday.
The Maple Leafs are coming off a 2-1 overtime loss to the Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday at the Air Canada Centre.
"Every day you talk about how big the game is, but that's what we're going to do right until the end, obviously," Maple Leafs coach Mike Babcock said. "You can tell by looking at it. That's a huge point for us (Saturday), an absolutely huge point, but we've got to keep getting better.
"I thought we were, as good as we played at times, I thought we were very respectful of them and I'd like to see us go after them a little bit more. That's all part of the process too."
Maple Leafs rookie Auston Matthews ended a seven-game stretch without a goal or assist when he scored his 32nd goal of the season on Saturday.
"He has been playing well throughout the games he hasn't been getting a point," said teammate William Nylander, who combined with Matthews on the goal. "So, I mean, when you're playing well, that's basically what matters as long as you're creating. Now I'm happy for him that he was able to score a goal (Saturday)."
Forgot about that.
