David Krejci just did the post-game interview on the Bruins bench that goes out over the sound system here to the fans and thanked the fans for letting Kessel have it with the booing and taunting. Further proof that Kessel and the Bruins would have never worked.
That's all from here folks. Thanks for joining us here at our Live Bruins Blog and have a safe and good night!
Third period, 2:02, Bruins 7-2: Mikhail Grabovski just scored as the Leafs attempt to salvage some dignity here.
Third period, 4:14, Bruins 7-1: The Maple Leafs just broke the shutout bid for Tuukka Rask as Niklas Hagman scored Toronto's first goal on their 30th shot.
Third period, 7:13, Bruins 7-0: Steve Begin just did the tango with Jamal Mayers and it may get ugly here in the final seven minutes as frustration could pour off the Toronto bench.
Third period, 7:15, Bruins 7-0: Hats are flying here at the TD Garden as Marc Savard just scored his third goal for the hat-trick. Right before that Johnny Boychuk got his first NHL goal. The romp is on here!
Again, what a difference a night makes as it was the Bruins allowing a hat trick to Mike Cammalleri last night and tonight Savard gets one. Any given night I guess.
Third period, 8:24, Bruins 5-0: Lost in all the "Kessel Mania" here is the play of Tuukka Rask tonight and this season and the fact that the Leafs traded him to Boston for Andrew Raycroft. Highway robbery if you ask any hockey insider! The Bruins won out big on that deal.
If Cliff Fletcher were here, the Bruins could thank him and Brian Burke for the Phil Kessel and Rask deals.
Third period, 13:54, Bruins 5-0: Patrice Bergeron just made an amazing end-to-end rush and then dished it unselfishly to Mark Recchi for the Bruins second power play goal of the game. Matt Stajan had been in the box for tripping.
Tuukka Rask, having an amazing game in net got the secondary assist. The Bruins are now 2-for-4 on the power play.
Third period, 15:43, Bruins 4-0: We have a delay in the action here as there is a glass problem by the Bruins bench. The crowd continues to hassle Phil Kessel here every time he touches the puck. Kessel just got his second shot and hasn't had that zip in his game he has shown in his first 15 games.
Third period, 19:15, Bruins 4-0: Underway in the the final frame and the Leafs have put Vesa Toskala in between the pipes in relief of Joey MacDonald. What a difference a day can make as it's the Bruins chasing a goalie out tonight.
End of second period, Bruins 4-0: The Bruins have answered the bell so far tonight as far as the Kessel hype and rebounding from a bad loss go and they're up 4-0 after two periods of play.
Boston is really getting better at keeping the pressure on and not sitting back when they get the lead. The power play also rebounded nicely after failing to score on a two-man advantage.
As for Phil Kessel, he is a minus 3, has one shot and two giveaways, one that led to Zdeno Chara's goal.
Second period, 5:15, Bruins 4-0: Marc Savard just got his second goal of the night and also ended the Bruins power play futility with a power play goal. Michael Ryder and Marco Sturm had the helpers. Sturm has a goal and an assist tonight.
Second period, 6:27, Bruins 3-0: Ian White is in the sin-bin for hooking and the Bruins are on their second power play.
Second period, 10:13, Bruins 3-0: The Bruins failed to convert on the two-man advantage there and are now 0-for-1. But more important is that is the third time in the last two games they came away empty from a two-man advantage. They're also 0-for-8 in their last eight power plays after going 0-for-7 last night.
Second period, 14:38, Bruins 3-0: Colton Orr just got called for roughing and interference and the Bruins have a four-minute power play.
Second period, 15:37, Bruins 3-0: Tension is certainly building with the Leafs in a 3-0 hole. While killing off the penalty on Ference, the Bruins find themselves engaged in some trash talking in front of the benches. The two fights earlier won't likely be the last two fights of the night.
Second period, 17:51, Bruins 3-0: It didn't take long for the Bruins to build on their two-goal lead. Chara blasts one from the point that gets deflected off a skate and just beats MacDonald on the stick side.
End of first period, Bruins 2-0: "Kessel Mania" is now officially underway and it appears that the former Bruins sniper is being affected by the booing every time he touches the puck and the hype surrounding the game.
After one period, Kessel has only one shot and is a minus 2. The Bruins have done a good job of making him work from the perimeter and from the boards so far.
The Bruins also have a lot more jump in their game thus far which is good to see after last night.
First period, 1:49, Bruins 2-0: Marco Sturm is in the penalty box for slashing and the Leafs are on their first power play.
First period, 2:36, Bruins 2-0: Wondering if Mike Komisarek misses Milan Lucic tonight? Should be interesting to see if that rivalry carries over and combined with Phil Kessel being a Leaf, creates a renewed rivalry between the Bruins and Toronto?
First period, 7:32, Bruins 2-0: As I said in the last post, the Bruins are taking out some frustration but they also appeared to have maybe looked ahead to this game against their former and by some Bruins, not liked teammate Phil Kessel that reportedly wanted out.
That is great and all, but they should've been up for last night's game and possibly spoiling the Habs birthday party. It is almost as if the Bruins pick certain games to just let it all out and this may be one of them. But they need to do that every game!
First period, 10:20, Bruins 2-0: Mark Stuart and Jamal Mayers just did the tango and looks like the Bruins apparently are letting out some frustration from last night's embarrassment in Montreal.
First period, 12:28, Bruins 2-0: A whirlwind here for yours truly as I just got off the road from Montreal, made it just in time for faceoff, and then two quick goals and a fight!
First period, 14:32, Bruins 2-0: The TD Garden is rocking right now as the Bruins just took a 2-0 lead with two goals in 33 seconds. Marco Sturm made it 1-0 and then Marc Savard beat Joey McDonald to make it 2-0. In between the goals, Shawn Thornton just went Toe-to-Toe with former Bruins pugilist Colton Orr.
First period, 14:41: Here are the lines for tonight's game:
Forwards
Blake Wheeler–Marc Savard–Byron Bitz
Marco Sturm–Patrice Bergeron–Mark Recchi
Vladimir Sobotka–David Krejci–Michael Ryder
Shawn Thornton–Steve Begin–Daniel Paille
Defensemen
Zdeno Chara–Derek Morris
Andrew Ference–Dennis Wideman
Mark Stuart–Johnny Boychuk
Goaltenders
Tim Thomas
Tuukka Rask
Maple Leafs
Forwards
Alexei Ponikarovsky–Matt Stajan–Phil Kessel
Jason Blake–Mikhail Grabovski–Niklas Hagman
Nikolai Kulemin–Wayne Primeau–Lee Stempniak
Christian Hanson–Jamal Mayers–Colton Orr
Defense
Tomas Kaberle–Mike Komisarek
Francois Beauchemin–Jeff Finger
Ian White–Luke Schenn
Goalies
Vesa Toskala
Joey MacDonald
First period, 19:13: Underway here in the first period at TD Garden and Phil Kessel is already being booed every time he touches the puck. Should be interesting to see if any Bruins get in on the action and lay a nice hit on him.
2:22 p.m.: After a rough defeat in front of a wild Canadiens crowd in Montreal on Friday night, the Bruins must now prepare for one of the most anticipated home games in the young season.
Phil Kessel, who was dealt to the Leafs this past September, makes his first return to the Garden for what should be an exciting affair between two division rivals.
Toronto has been hot as of late, picking up wins in five of its last seven and two straight including a 3-0 shutout win over the Habs and a 6-3 thumping of the Blue Jackets.
