The Bruins took the ice tonight in Toronto with only three of their regular defensemen on the ice. At the end of the game, it was not the defense that was the problem, it was the offense. Boston was shut out by Jonas "The Monster" Gustavsson tonight, losing their fourth in a row. It was Gustavsson's first career NHL shutout, and it also got Phil Kessel his first win against his former team.
The Bruins and Leafs played a scoreless first period, but Toronto didn't waste much time in the second to get on the board.
Tomas Kaberle came down the left side and put a wrist shot on Tuukka Rask. The puck slid through Rask, and trickled over the goal line. The goal was possibly the worst goal Rask has allowed this season, and is definitely one he would love to have back.
The game trudged along without a lot of chemistry on either side. The Bruins especially looked disinterested, which is the opposite of what they were in Boston when Toronto came to visit.
Toronto was able to put another goal on the board midway through the third period. This time it was Jason Blake who potted the Maple Leafs goal. Blake fired one over the glove of Rask, and gave Toronto a 2-0 lead.
The scoring ended with Blake's goal, but not the hitting. At the 13:20 mark of the third period, Johnny Boychuk laid out Matt Stajan. After the hit a scrum occurred, but not much came of it.
After looking at the replay, it looked like Boychuk's hit was cleanish. However, I would expect a fine for Boychuk as the NHL is not lenient when it comes to hits to the head.
After losing four games in a row, Boston now sits in a tie for sixth place in the Eastern Conference with 39 points. The Bruins are now six points behind division leading Buffalo.
Boston will be off tomorrow, and will next play in Ottawa on Monday night. The Senators are in fifth place in the conference, one point ahead of the Bruins.
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