Boston Bruins
Bruins Surprise the Panthers, Giving Maple Leafs a Boost
Today, the imploding Boston Bruins limped into Florida and came away with an OT win over the Panthers. How does that help the Maple Leafs?
The Boston Bruins had lost six in a row. There is rumored turmoil on the team. Are Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak talking to each other? What are fans to make of their reported rift? It’s funny how up-and-down the hockey world can be and how an unexpected win can change people’s perspectives.
The Bruins looked like they were going to implode just yesterday. The news was nasty. Marchand was calling for a hockey writer’s job. Then, Boston limps into Florida to play the Panthers and wins by a 4-3 score. It didn’t hurt that goalie Jeremy Swayman allowed only three goals on 46 Panther shots for a save percentage of .930.
Whatever. The Bruins did their long-time rival, the Toronto Maple Leafs, a massive favor by beating the Panthers. What’s the story there?
A Hungry Team Like the Bruins Can Still Bite Back
Even a team on a six-game losing streak like the Bruins can still win against a strong team like the Panthers. The Bruins snapped their slump with David Pastrnak’s late-game heroics (like with seconds remaining in overtime) and solid play from Morgan Geekie and Swayman in the crease. Doing so proved that even a wounded team can rise to the occasion.
Florida had been dominant this season. But on any given night, a struggling team can find a way to beat the odds. For the Maple Leafs, this is a reminder that no opponent is invincible, and sometimes the unexpected happens. Toronto will happily take that lesson, staying three points up on the Panthers in the Atlantic Division race (56 points to 53, with 43 games played).
Now, if the Maple Leafs can win tonight.
Every Point Counts in the Atlantic
The Bruins could have won without going into overtime. Then the Panthers wouldn’t have even got a single point. But at least they did keep the Panthers from getting two points, which keeps the Maple Leafs in the driver’s seat in the Atlantic Conference.
The Bruins might not be imploding after all. Today, they rose on the road to beat a strong team. Who knows what that means for the future? Perhaps the Florida team isn’t as good as it used to be.
But does this mean the Maple Leafs are in better shape in the Atlantic? The season continues, but Maple Leafs fans will soon know more than they did this morning.
Related: Ex-Maple Leafs Goalie Samsonov: Shaken Strange Mental Blocks
Jon Harding
January 11, 2025 at 7:51 pm
Just watched the Leafs lose 3-0 to a supposedly run-ragged Canucks team. Fans were booing the last 10 minutes. Good for them. Not sure what Morgan Reilly is trying to prove. He’s been a liability of late. They don’t look right and continue, as they did under Sheldon Keefe, to seemingly take every possible chance they can to take their foot off the pedal. Playing in the NHL isn’t supposed to be easy.