CBC-Sports

Why can't the Leafs buy a victory against the Bruins?

December 18, 2009 12:42 PM | Posted by   Jim Hughson  

“The best revenge is to be unlike him who performed the injury.” So said Marcus Aurelius who coached the Romans from 160-180!!

He might have been reading The Hockey News and referring to the way the Maple Leafs play the Bruins.

Toronto has lost two in a row this season and seven straight to Boston. And playing the way they did the last two games won’t get the win they seek for Phil Kessel against his former team. Toronto played right into the Bruins' hands as though to impale themselves and self-destruct.

Home ice will help coach Ron Wilson get Kessel away from Zdeno Chara and Patrice Bergeron’s line, but beyond the game the Leafs need to play the way they have for the better part of a month. (I say the better part so as to eliminate the Bruin games and that horrifying tilt against Phoenix on Wednesday).

The Leafs' resurgence has been about speed, attack and willingness to go to the net. Against Boston, that didn’t happen in two games over the last couple of weeks. They lost face-offs, gave up shooting lanes, didn’t protect the goaltender and, in general, weren’t very hard to play against.

Maybe in an effort to get Kessel a win, they just tried too hard, which brings up another old saying about pay back: “When seeking revenge dig two graves – one for yourself."
In other words, if revenge is your only focus you’re unlikely to get a victory. Just play the game the right way. The way you can.

On the hot stove:

It’s hard to be critical of Kessel who’s on a 30-goal pace despite a late start, but he could use a little more battle in his game and this is the time to show it. The Bruins haven’t treated him very well. He knew he was in tough playing against Chara and didn’t appear to do much to work through it in Boston. Don’t think other teams didn’t notice the way the Bruins handled him and the way he seemed to think it just wasn’t his night. He’d better show a willingness to play through tough times or every team will play him that way.

Iso Camera on:

Patrice Bergeron was not himself in either of the last two years while suffering through the effects of post-concussion syndrome. After missing 94 games in two seasons, he’s back to the point where he should get serious consideration for a spot on Canada’s Olympic team. Bergeron is one of the league's best face-off men, and he plays a responsible two way game that makes you think he might be the perfect candidate to play against Malkin and Ovechkin or Backstrom and Alfredsson.

From the tape room:

The Leafs' improvement comes largely from goal scoring because, despite some success, they are still giving up too many goals and having trouble killing penalties. For the month of December, including Wednesday against Phoenix, the Leafs are 6-3 and have scored 33 goals.

But they have a goals-against average of 3.33, a save percentage of .890 and have killed just 61 per cent of their penalties, giving up at least one power play goal in eight straight games. There's still some work to do in their own end of the rink.

The Bruins have juggled all of their lines this week trying to find some offence. Injuries to Marc Savard and Milan Lucic, the absence of Kessel and few goals from the blue line mean the Bruins have to be air tight, defensively, to win. They are 37 goals behind last year's pace after 32 games. The top line looks like it will be Savard with Marco Sturm and Michael Ryder.

From the stat pak:

Kessel has been the spark for the Leafs offensive resurgence but he’s not actually the leading scorer on the team through the first nine games of December. That honour goes to Matt Stajan, although Kessel gets a big assist.

Leafs' December scoring (through to Dec. 16):

Matt Stajan 9 gp 4 g 7 a 11pts +7
Phil Kessel 9gp 5g 5a 10pts +5
Alexie Ponikorovski 9gp 4g 6a 10 pts +5

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