10/28/2010 at 12:28pm EDT
Leafs (5-2-1) vs Bruins (4-2-0)
The Toronto Maple Leafs are actually ahead of the Boston Bruins in the Eastern Conference standings. The Bruins do have 2 games in hand, however, making this the proverbial 4-point game in the battle for division rank.
The Leafs put an end to their 3-game skid on Tuesday against Florida, thanks to a missed Goalie Interference call on Colton Orr and yet another Phil Kessel goal. The Leafs hope to retain that top spot in the Northeast Division with a win against the same team who traded them Kessel a little more than a year ago.
Storylines
Tyler Seguin will be in the lineup for the Bruins. Look for the Kessel vs. Seguin storyline to come up in colour commentary.
Colby Armstrong is out 4-6 weeks with a broken finger. Luca Caputi takes his spot on Line 3 with Sjostrom and Brent.
Kessel has scored 7 goals in 8 games. Look for Zdeno Chara to be all over him tonight.
Tim Thomas is undefeated this season posting all 4 Bruins victories and starting to regain his status as the Bruins’ starting netminder after having the job partially stolen last year.
Nathan Horton is on a tear with 5 goals and 9 points in 6 games this season.
Historically
The Leafs have lost 5 straight at the TD Garden and 3-8-3 in their last 14 against the Bruins.
In his 6 career games versus the Bruins, Phil Kessel has posted only 1 assist and is –5 in that span.
Starting Goaltenders
Jonas Gustavsson (1-1-0, 0.910 SV%, 2.3 GAA)
Tim Thomas (4-0-0, 0.980 SV%, 0.75 GAA)
Injury Report
Toronto
Colby Armstrong: Out 4-6 Weeks (Broken Finger)
Boston
Marc Savard: Out Indefinitely (Post-Concussion Syndrome)
Marco Sturm: Forecasted to return in November (Torn ACL/MCL)
Standings
TOR: 8 GP, 5-2-1, 11 Points (2nd in Northeast, 5th in Conference)
BOS: 6 GP, 4-2-0, 8 Points (3rd in Northeast, 10th in Conference)
Home/Away Record
BOS at Home: 1-2-0
TOR on the Road: 2-1-0
Stats
Toronto
G/G: 2.88 (12th)
GA: 2.38 (8th)
PP%: 14.7 (19th)
PK%: 86.2 (8th)
SOG/G: 26.2 (29th)
SA/G: 26.1 (3rd)
Average Goal Differential: 0.50
Boston
G/G: 3.00 (10th)
GA: 1.83 (1st)
PP%: 20 (9th)
PK%: 90.5 (2nd)
SOG/G: 34.3 (4th)
SA/G: 33.8 (24th)
Average Goal Differential: 1.17
Comparables
Leafs Road Scoring: 3.33 (6th)
Bruins Home GA: 3.00 (17th)
Bruins Home Scoring: 2.67 (18th)
Leafs Road GA: 3.67 (26th)
Leafs Road PP: 14.29% (17th)
Bruins Home PK: 83.3% (15th)
Bruins Home PP: 35.71% (2nd)
Leafs Road PK: 85.71% (10th)
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