7:09 pm
February 24

Bruins @ Maple Leafs

Who will WIN this matchup?

Boston Bruins (37-13-8)

@ Toronto Maple Leafs (38-20-5)

 

Starting Goalies:

Tuukka Rask (BOS): Confirmed

Frederik Andersen (TOR): Confirmed

 

Current odds:

Boston Bruins: (-120)

Toronto Maple Leafs: (+100)

 

• The Toronto Maple Leafs’ uphill climb to catch the top two teams in the Atlantic Division became even steeper after superstar Auston Matthews suffered a shoulder injury in Thursday’s win over the New York Islanders. It’s unclear how long Matthews will be sidelined for Toronto, which goes for its ninth straight home win versus the Boston Bruins on Saturday.

• Toronto has won eight of nine overall but remains one point back of Boston, which is 8-2-0 in February and has five games in hand on the Maple Leafs. The Bruins are three points behind Atlantic Division-leading Tampa Bay with three games in hand as they prepare to make the fourth stop of a five-game road trip.

• In the mix for the Presidents’ Trophy, Boston made a pair of smaller deals by acquiring defenseman Nick Holden from the New York Rangers and shipping forward Frank Vatrano to Florida in separate trades. With Anders Bork undergoing season-ending shoulder surgery, the Bruins could be looking to add another body, although coach Bruce Cassidy is mindful of tinkering with a lineup that has lost only six times in the past 28 games (22-3-3). ” I do worry about if we subtract somebody from the room,” Cassidy said.

• Matthews was hurt with just over a minute to play in Thursday’s game against the Islanders, and Babcock said the team will know more about his condition Saturday. Babcock will give William Nylander the first crack at taking the center spot of Matthews, who missed four games in November and six more in December with separate injuries. Matthews’ absence had a ripple effect on the lines at Friday’s practice, with Kasperi Kapanen elevated to the No. 3 line and Josh Leivo seeing time on the fourth.

• Maple Leafs F Mitch Marner has seven goals in the last 10 games, including one against Boston on Feb. 3.

5/10
Confidence
StreakSmarter Pick
Boston Bruins
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