BE-LEAF-ABLE

Tonight's game will feature the Toronto Maple Leafs playing their 20th game of the season tonight when they visit Boston to face the Bruins. (7:00PM ET start, TSN)

It will only be the Leafs' 2nd game since defeating the Bruins 6-4 last week. The break is unsual for the team but, on the whole, they don't mind.

Toronto is coming off of a 5-1 beating of the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday night which put them at 11-5-3 on the season. J.S. Aubin got the start for the

Leafs and will likely get the start again tonight, as Goaltender Andrew Raycroft and the team have decided that the team's current' success should allow him to heal properly and not risk further injury to himself:

Related Topic: http://www.hockeyforum.com/toronto-m...lutely-no.html

Aubin has dropped what was a horrendous 4.20 goals against average down to a 3.47 Goals Against Average, and he currently has a .877 save percentage.

Tonight's game will also be the return of defenceman Pavel Kubina, who has missed over a month with torn knee ligament, and had his return delayed by the return of his 1st child prior to what should have been his return last week agains the Bruins:

Tomas Kaberle continues to have the hot hand, netting 4points in his last 2 games for 17 in 19 games played this year (7 Goals in his last 8), while Darcy Tucker continues to lead the team in goals with 11, and is tied for a league leading 9 on the Powerplay (Marian Hossa).

Goaltender J.F. Racine has been sent down to the minors in place of Mikael Tellqvist for the back-up position. Racine was replacing Tellqvist last Saturday as he was out with a broken finger.

Toronto trail Buffalo by 6 points for the division and League, while the Sabres, who lost the the Ottawa Senators last night, have 1 game in hand (2 after tonight).

Boston is coming off of a 3-2 shootout win over the much improved Washington Capitals

Mark Savard leads the team with 18 points in 14 games, while veteran winger Glen Murray leads the team in goals with 8 in the same span.

Struggling goaltender, Tim Thomas, has a 3.43 Goals Against Average, and .893 Save Percentage through 11 games played so far this year.

The Bruins are 6-7-2 on the season for last in the northeast division.

The meeting will be the 2nd of 8 between the 2 clubs this year.

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"It's not the way it's going to be. We have to be very, very patient and build this the right way. We have to go through a process. It may be painful. I hope it isn't. But we're prepared for all the bumps and pratfalls and potholes in the road ahead. I'm prepared for it anyway, or I wouldn't have come." - Ron Wilson, Head Coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs.

BE-LEAF-ABLE

1-0 Boston.

Phil Kessel. That's one of those goals I hate. Aubin should of had it.

Bad goal.

__________________
"It's not the way it's going to be. We have to be very, very patient and build this the right way. We have to go through a process. It may be painful. I hope it isn't. But we're prepared for all the bumps and pratfalls and potholes in the road ahead. I'm prepared for it anyway, or I wouldn't have come." - Ron Wilson, Head Coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs.

shookem

Yeah the Buds loked good near the end of the period. If they play like that in the second it won't be long before they tie it up.

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BE-LEAF-ABLE

An interesting stat:

Until that 1st goal of the game, Michael Peca hadn't been on the ice to allow a goal shorthanded 50 consecutive times.

Impressive.

__________________
"It's not the way it's going to be. We have to be very, very patient and build this the right way. We have to go through a process. It may be painful. I hope it isn't. But we're prepared for all the bumps and pratfalls and potholes in the road ahead. I'm prepared for it anyway, or I wouldn't have come." - Ron Wilson, Head Coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs.

BE-LEAF-ABLE

Finally. It's a 1-1 tie, late in the 3rd.

Bryan McCabe with the goal.

J.S. Aubin is standing on his head for the Leafs right now.

__________________
"It's not the way it's going to be. We have to be very, very patient and build this the right way. We have to go through a process. It may be painful. I hope it isn't. But we're prepared for all the bumps and pratfalls and potholes in the road ahead. I'm prepared for it anyway, or I wouldn't have come." - Ron Wilson, Head Coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs.

BE-LEAF-ABLE

It's over. Toronto loses 2-1 in overtime. That's a tough loss to swallow.

Aubin played his heart out out there. They get away with a point, but Boston got 1 more.

__________________
"It's not the way it's going to be. We have to be very, very patient and build this the right way. We have to go through a process. It may be painful. I hope it isn't. But we're prepared for all the bumps and pratfalls and potholes in the road ahead. I'm prepared for it anyway, or I wouldn't have come." - Ron Wilson, Head Coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs.