Bruins Bash Leafs: Sweep Season Series for First Time in 20 Years

The Boston Bruins needed to find their stride heading into the final 10 games of the season.

Messy March

After a disastrous start this month, the B's found their groove in the last two games having won against a tough opponent in the Philadelphia Flyers and sweeping an old adversary in the Toronto Maple Leafs last night.

I had to watch the game again to figure out how a team like the Bruins, who were struggling this month with a combination of injuries, a packed schedule and downright bad defensive plays that, in no better words to be used, embarrassed themselves.

In the two losses that preceded the last two wins, they were outscored 12-3 against the Tampa Bay Lightning (giving Steven Stamkos his second 50-goal season at the age of 22), and the third-seeded Florida Panthers.

The Game

Last night, the Bruins took on the Toronto Maple Leafs and, up to that point, the Bruins won all five contests and were looking to sweep.  Did they ever.  With eight goals scored in the game and all by the Bruins, we will spare you the details as the Bruins not only played that well, but the Leafs played that bad.

The "well" part for the Bruins was that they applied pressure, they kept the forechecking going and took away time as space from the Leafs leaving them no room for error.  The Bruins looked like the Bruins.

The "bad" part for the Leafs is the defensive breakdowns, the ill-advised passes and not playing their man.  When they did error (and they did a lot), it cost them on the scoreboard.

There were four goals that I saw that really should not have happened due to misassignments, and giveaways.

Equally, there were four goals that were very good goals.

Brian Rolston was criticized for his lack of production coming back for the second time to wear the Spoked B, but he seemed to get his game on with a goal and three assists for a four-point night.

The amazing part that I noticed that even though the Bruins lit up the scoreboard in a huge way, Patrice Bergeron did not register a single point and was even '0' on the plus/minus.

Talk about your irony between these two players...

Only four players did not register a point in the Bruins roster.

Goalie Tim Thomas had to only face 13 shots on net.  Seven of those shots were spanned over the first two periods.  The B's would hope that The Tank would get some rest.

When speaking with WEEI, Thomas’ first question was from a reporter asking if he wanted to come out of the game and rest given how big a blowout it was. 

“I was getting rest out there, wasn’t I?” he responded.

Indeed.  It was probably the least amount of shots he has faced in his professional career.

What Was Komisarek Thinking?

And Mike Komisarek, he collides with Milan Lucic in front of the Leafs bench, and when Komisarek realized who it was, he gave him a shot and a glare.  Lucic was about to continue with the play, but decided to oblige the 6'4", 243-pounder.

Komisarek, who had somewhat unsuccessful bouts with Lucic, had no success here and Lucic manhandled him with a series of body shots and upper cuts.

What seemed like an attempt get some life into the Blue and White, it only fueled the Black and Gold as it brought them further back into their style of hockey that they thrive on.

B's Faithful Gave Thanks to Kessel

So the game could not have ended for the Bruins faithful better than with a goal by Tyler Seguin with just a minute and a half left.

That brought on the "THANK YOU KES-SEL!" chant at the Garden.  The familiar chant when Seguin scores at the Garden on the Leafs signifying the "gratitude" for leaving the B's in favor for a bigger paycheck in Toronto while the B's acquired Seguin in the draft the following season.

Jack Edwards made the comment that he hoped that Kessel found comfort with the money he's making in the decision to go to Toronto.  As I find that gloating, there is validity to his words.

While the trade did benefit both teams, Kessel strengthened the Leafs offensive, but is still a defensive liability while Seguin is being molded into a great two-way player while still holding a great offensive punch.

To date, Kessel earned one goal and two assists for three points while Seguin earned seven goals and four assists for 11 points.

Kessel may have missed his chance to raise the ultimate prize as the Leafs are not a playoff team as of yet and will most likely not be for some years to come if this season is any indicator.

At the End of the Day...

The B's outscore the Leafs this season 36-10, swept them for the first time since the 1991-92 season, and send the Leafs' dreams closer to the drain that is called the playoff pipe dream.

The Leafs have nine games left and are currently eight points out of the eighth and final playoff spot.

The Bruins extended their point gap to three points and will need to stay on their toes to keep the Ottawa Senators at bay in what may look like the playoff matchup in the first round.

The Bruins will now face stiffer competition on the West Coast when they face Joe Thornton and the San Jose Sharks, the LA Kings and the Anaheim Ducks on the three game road trip.

This is Cory Ducey saying "Hit Hard, But Keep It Clean".