Bruins-Maple Leafs: Wicked Important Game for Boston Tonight

The Boston Bruins look to make it their fourth straight road win tonight in Toronto—despite being 2-4 in the month of February thus far.

What a perfect opportunity for the B's to get back on the winning track tonight-and get back in the playoff standings.

I think this is one of the biggest games of the season for the B's, for a hundred reasons, but I'll just drop four or five. 

First. They're playing the Toronto Maple Leafs. The second worst team in the NHL, and sitting alone in the basement of the Eastern Conference with 55 points. Gotta take advantage, walk away with these two points, and get back into seventh place.

Second. The B's have been playing well on the road this season with a .733 winning %, and taking their last three in a row. After losing four straight at home, the black-and-gold need the points where-ever they can.

Third. The New York Rangers clobbered the Buffalo Sabres today 5-1. The  much needed two points for the red-hot-Rangers, landed them in seventh place in the Eastern Conference with 65 points. Followed by the currently-eighth seed Sabres with 64 points, the Bruins fell to 9th with their 63 points.

Fourth. Struggling teams, and key injuries within the Conference: The Philadelphia Flyers have lost five straight, and are without Simon Gagne for at least one more week. Time to gain some points on them before Forsberg comes back to town.

The Carolina Hurricanes lost their veteran captain Rod Brind'Amour-perhaps for the season. Granted the 'Canes are in the Southeast Division, the B's need to stay ahead of the next best team in that division. 

Are the Thrashers going to deal Hossa? If so, there goes Atlanta in '08.

Is Washington that good? Not with their shaky goaltenders, no way.

Carolina is still the team to beat down there.

Fifth, and final point: If they don't start winning now, will Marian Hossa ever want to come here?

I'm not giving up my hopes and dreams of seeing Marian in the Black-and-Gold in the next nine days. 

Start a nice little win streak here B's. Make a quick jump to 5th by next week, and hopefully you'll have an all-star-addition to your squad.

Lose, and it could come back to haunt us....