TORONTO – It looks like even more of a mismatch right now than it did last spring.
But there’s something about facing the Boston Bruins that seems to stir an unusual amount of belief within the Toronto Maple Leafs. In the leadup to Thursday’s game at Air Canada Centre, more than one Leafs player asserted that they match up favourably with one of the NHL’s best – a statement that seems even more strange given that Toronto just ended an eight-game losing streak.
"We’re a quick team," Nazem Kadri said after the morning skate. "We’re physical too."
You’ll recall that it was Kadri who declared last spring that the Leafs had a "very winnable series" on their hands against Boston. That statement came just before Game 1 and was met with some derision. However, Kadri and the Leafs ended up falling just a blown 4-1 lead in Game 7 short of pulling off the upset.
Toronto dropped its first two games against the Bruins this season before delivering a stirring victory on Jan. 14, holding off a late flurry to prevail 4-3.
Finding a way to win on Thursday would be even bigger than that. The Leafs can actually work their way back into the final Eastern Conference wild card spot by the end of the evening with a victory over Boston and a Columbus loss in Philadelphia.
The Bruins haven’t done much losing of late, but are playing the second half of a back-to-back and dealing with a lower-body injury to red-hot winger Jarome Iginla. That kept him out of a 3-2 loss in Detroit on Wednesday – a game where the Red Wings provided a good blueprint for having success against Boston.
"Pressure is No. 1," Carlyle said. "If you look at the way the Detroit Red Wings were able to get their forechecking game going – a puck possession game – and they checked through the neutral ice. They didn’t get give them a lot of space.
"That’s what you have to do with Boston."
Jonathan Bernier was expected to start in goal for the Leafs against Chad Johnson, the Bruins backup who is an impressive 17-3-1 on the season. Johnson also sports a .926 save percentage and won a game at Air Canada Centre in November.
The power play was an area of emphasis at Thursday’s morning skate. Jake Gardiner recently replaced Cody Franson on the top unit – "We felt that Jake has been earning more minutes," Carlyle said – while David Clarkson took reps in Joffrey Lupul’s spot with the second group.
The Leafs were held at bay with a man advantage during their last three games and expect offence to be tough to come by. However, the mood around the team was considerably lighter after it ended a long losing run with Tuesday’s 3-2 victory over Calgary.
"It’s just much more relaxed and not as depressing to come to the rink and try and figure out a way where we can get two points," Kadri said.
Prior to the game, the Leafs recalled winger Carter Ashton for the fifth time this season. It was unclear if he would dress against Boston.
Ashton has produced big time in the American Hockey League – he has 16 goals in 22 games for the Marlies – but is still looking for his first NHL goal. The Leafs are wondering when that scoring touch will show up at the next level.
"We are questioning that because every time he goes down he plays better," Carlyle said. "He’s definitely been the best player on the Marlies in the time’s that he’s been down there. … The confidence that he shows there, we believe will one day translate to the NHL."
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PROJECTED LEAFS LINEUP
