It's a 20-save shutout for Tim Thomas as the Bruins again shut down Phil Kessel, while Patrice Bergeron and Tyler Seguin provide all the offense needed.
Third Period, 18:04, Bruins 2-0: The Bruins kill another one, and McQuaid gets a scoring chance out of the box, but his shot is denied.
Third Period, 16:04, Bruins 2-0: Big kill here for the Bruins, as Adam McQuaid goes off for hooking.
McQuaid's had a decent night in his first game of the year, but that miscue could prove costly. The Bruins' PK has been perfect so far though.
Third Period, 15:21, Bruins 2-0: Nice little bit of coaching there by Julien, who sends out Campbell to take a defensive draw for Seguin.
It almost leads to a breakaway, but Mark Recchi can't quite catch up to it. A few years ago maybe.
Third Period, 13:11, Bruins 2-0: Tyler Seguin almost did it again, taking a Tim brent giveaway at the blue line and breaking in alone.
He was harrassed from behind, but no call was made as his shot stayed out. It was still enough for another round of "Thank you Kessel" chants from the crowd.
Third Period, 10:35, Bruins 2-0: Tim Thomas hasn't been tested too often in this one, but he just came up big with a point-blank save on Mikhail Grabovski in front.
Grabovski took a feed from Luke Scheen, who pinched in deep behind the goal line and dropped it back out front. The Bruins have a 28-19 edge in shots, but Thomas delivered the big save when needed.
Third Period, 8:30, Bruins 2-0: After serving all of his penalty time, Horton is back out with the top line and nearly scores on a rising shot from the right wing.
Horton has scored in every game he's played as a Bruin, but has just a little more than half a period left to extend that streak to seven games.
Third Period, 5:40, Bruins 2-0: After Seguin scored in the second, Jordan Caron nearly matches his fellow rookie.
Caron made a nice cut to the middle of the slot and ripped a testing shot, but the puck stays out.
Third Period, 2:00, Bruins 2-0: The Bruins opt to play their fourth line against Toronto's top unit, and Marchand nearly scores off a feed from Thornton.
Thornton also gave a shot to Kessel, while Chara nailed Clarke MacArthur into the boards. MacArthue has replaced Kulemin on the top line with Kessel and Bozak.
Third Period, 0:00, Bruins 2-0: The final period is under way, with the Bruins looking to close out this win before a sellout crowd of 17,565.
That attendence was just announced, as the Bruins have sold out each of their first three games at the Garden this season.
Second Intermission Notes: The Bruins are 20 minutes away from another win over the Leafs, but this year's Toronto squad is definitely capable of making a comeback.
Tyler Seguin came back to haunt the Leafs for last year's trade with his second career goal, one of two shots he's had in 7:27.
The Bruins selected Seguin with one of the picks acquired for Phil Kessel, who continues to be snakebit against his former club. He has six of Toronto's 12 shots so far, but still has no goals in six games and two periods against the Bruins since the trade.
End Second Period, Bruins 2-0: The Bruins will head to the second intermission with a two-goal lead after an impressive middle frame.
They doubled their lead and outshot Toronto 10-4 in the period, but still have another bg 20 minutes left to close this on out.
Second Period, 18:35, Bruins 2-0: With Nathan Horton in the box for 15 minutes, Shawn Thornton gets a rare shift on the top line with Lucic and Krejci.
Their last names are separated by just one letter, but Horton and Thornton's games are just a little more different. Of course, when Horton is doing the fighting, it only stands that Thornton should get to play on the top line.
Second Period, 16:01, Bruins 2-0: The Bruins call timeout with a face-off set for their zone in the right circle.
Interesting move to try to settle things down and set up the defense after an icing, even with a lead.
Second Period, 15:11, Bruins 2-0: The Leafs had a chance to regain some momentum, but the Bruins kill off another penalty.
This time it was Seidenberg in the box for delay of game, but no damage done as the Leafs are now 0 for 4 on the power play.
Second Period, 12:26, Bruins 2-0: And that has to hurt the Leafs faithful, as Tyler Seguin scores to double the lead.
Seguin one-times a shot from the left circle top shelf off a pass from Dennis Seidenberg. Ryder also picks up the assist, and the Bruins crowd wants to give one to Kessel as well, as they break out in a "Thank you Kessel" chant after the goal.
Second Period, 10:58, Bruins 1-0: And the gloves are off, with some unlikely combatants as Nathan Horton has his first bout as Bruin against Dion Phaneuf.
They square off after a face-off in the Toronto zone, ditching the helmets as well as the gloves. Horton goes with the big right as they come together and they go down quickly. Phaneuf throw a right that connected from the ice, and Horton responded with some shots from on top. That earned Horton an extra 10-minute misconduct as well as the matching fighting majors.
Second Period, 10:56, Bruins 1-0: Brad Marchand's quest for his first NHL goal continues to be thwarted.
He had a golden chance in front off a setup by Shawn Thornton, who drove the net from the left side, but Marhcand couldn't get it into the open side of the cage. He had another bid later in the shift, but his blast from the left circle was stopped by Gustavsson.
Second Period, 8:16, Bruins 1-0: Zdeno Chara just greeted old pal Kessel with a forear in the corner to sent the Leafs forward to the ice.
Kessel is getting a heavy dose of the Bruins captain in this one as the Bruins have the last change at home. As expected, the Bruins are mixing and matching their defensive pairs, but Chara has played most frequently with Andrew Ference.
Second Period, 7:13, Bruins 1-0: The Bruins stay perfect on the penalty kill, maintaining their one-goal lead as they kill off their third penalty of the night.
Mark Stuart threw Kessel to the ice in a battle in the corner, much to the delight of teh Garden faithful.
Second Period, 5:13, Bruins 1-0: The Bruins can't convert on their power-play chance, and now they'll have to kill a penalty of their own.
Marchand goes off for hooking. That's Marchand's second minor of the night. He needs to be drawing penalties, not taking them to be effective in his agitator's role.
Second Period, 2:40, Bruins 1-0: The Bruins get another power-play chance as Colton Orr goes off for interfering with Shawn Thornton.
Bit of comedy before the power play, as Mike Zigomanis goes to the box by mistake first before he is replaced by Orr. Orr should know his way to the box by now, though he usually goes off for more than two minutes.
Second Period, 1:00, Bruins 1-0: The second period is under way, and it begins much like the first.
Kessel fires another shot on net, and Thomas again makes the save.
First Intermission Notes: The Bruins struck first to get the lead late in the first, but the Leafs have shown they won't be pushovers in this one.
Phil Kessel still hasn't scored against Boston, but he came to play tonight. He has five shots so far, while the rest of the team has just three as Boston holds an 11-8 edge. Kessel has attempted seven shots total in 6:58 over eight shifts.
Adam McQuaid has seen limited action in his first game of the season on the Bruins' blue line. He played just 3:21 over five shifts in the first, but did collect a hit. Toronto has had the better of the physical play in this one with a 15-11 edge in hits, but this hasn't been the nasty affair most expected with the rivalry between these two clubs.
The Bruins need to do a better job of controlling the puck. They have been charged with five giveaways already, while Toronto does not have any.
End First Period, Bruins 1-0: The Bruins go into the break up a goal, but not without a few scary seconds at the end of the period.
Toronto was all over the Bruins at the end of teh period, but a scrambling Tim Thomas was able to keep the puck out until the whistle sounded.
First Period, 19:19, Bruins 1-0: The Bruins strike first, as Patrice Bergeron fires home a one-timer from Chara from the top of the left circle.
It's Bergeron's first goal of the season and 100th of his career. Lucic picks up the second assist on the play.
First Period, 18:37, 0-0: The Bruins will go back on the power play as Brett Lebda goes off for interfering with Blake Wheeler along the right wall.
Tough shift for Wheeler, who took a chop from Mike Komisarek after the whistle. He gets back up to go after him, but nothing further develops.
First Period, 14:26, 0-0: The Leafs came within inches of opening the scoring in this one, but Luca Caputi's blast from the left wing clanged off the near post.
The Bruins hold an 8-6 edge in shots, but the play has been very even so far as the clubs continue to feel each other out.
First Period, 13:57, 0-0: The Bruins can't convert on the power play, but they did have some good pressure.
Zdeno Chara just missed on a pair of one-timers from the right point. The first sailed just high, the second was turned aside by Gustavsson with the blocker.
First Period, 11:57, 0-0: The Bruins get their first powerplay chance, as Mike Zigomanis goes off for slashing Nathan Horton.
The Bruins are particularly sensative to slashes these days after losing Johnny Boychuk to a fractured forearm on a slash, but Horton appears fine.
First Period, 10:48, 0-0: The penalty kill comes through again to keep this one scoreless.
Kessel did have a bid late, then Marchand nearly had a breakaway out of the box but was called off-side.
First Period, 8:48, 0-0: The Bruins are back on the penalty kill again, with Brad Marchand heading to the box this time.
Marchand gets called for shooting a stick to a teammate, and the Bruins will have to kill off their second penalty of the night. That play came off the Bruins having the fourth line out opposite Toronto's top line.
First Period, 6:01, 0-0: The hitting is starting to pick up a bit, as expected from these two rivals.
Tim Brent took a healthy run at Patrice Bergeron, but bounced off him in the neutral zone. Luke Schenn then plastered Mark Recchi into the boards.
First Period, 3:03, 0-0: The Bruins kill off taht first chance, as Stuart is out of the box.
Toronto had plenty of time in the Boston zone, but no real serious scoring threats.
First Period, 1:03, 0-0: The Bruins will have to kill off an early penalty, as Mark Stuart goes to the box for interference.
Stuart took out two Leafs coming over the blue line. The only problem was that just one of them had the puck.
First Period, 0:30, 0-0: The ceremonies are complete and the action is under way between the Bruins and Leafs.
And on the first shift of the game the "Kessel" chants have already begun.
7:15 p.m.: Phil Kessel may have been greeted with boos, but the Bruins fans show their respect for someone who stuck around Boston just a bit longer, as they welcome Milt Schmidt with a standing ovation.
The Bruins gave Schmidt two replica Stanley Cups for the two championships he won here as a player in 1939 and 1941.
The current Bruins are also showing their appreciation for the only man to ever serve as a player, captain, coach and GM with the Bruins, as the present-day B's watch on from the bench. Schmidt's family is also on the ice for the ceremony, which began with an introduction from team president Cam Neely.
Schmidt's retired No. 15 has been lowered from the rafters and willnow be raised back up to its rightul spot, with help from fellow retired number-wearers Terry O'Reilly, Ray Bourque, Johnny Bucyk and Bobby Orr. Their appearance was a special surprise, as the ceremony concludes with the No. 15 banner being returned to the rafters to another loud ovation.
7 p.m.: The Bruins and Leafs won't get under way until 7:24 for this one as there will be a pre-game ceremony honoring Milt Schmidt.
But the starters and scratches have been confirmed. The Bruins will have Brian McGrattan and Daniel Paille as the healthy scratches once again, while Tim Thomas gets the start in goal as expected. The top line of David Krejci, Milan Lucic and Nathan Horton also starts, along with Zdeno Chara and Andrew Ference on defense.
The Leafs counter with Jonas Gustavsson in goal, Dion Phaneuf and Francois Beauchemin on defense and their top line of Tyler Bozak, Nikolai Kulemin and Phil Kessel. Kessel's introduction was greeted with a loud chorus of boos.
Former Bruins prospect Kris Versteeg will not play. He was a game-time decision with a sore back, but did not skate in warm-ups. Defenseman Carl Gunnarsson is Toronto's only healthy scratch.
6 p.m.: The Bruins and Leafs will open their season series in just over an hour, and the Garden definitely has a electric feel for this one.
This game, of course, marks the seventh meeting between the clubs since Phil Kessel switched sides in the rivalry with his trade to Toronto last September. Kessel is still searching for his first goal against Boston, but the Bruins knw he's still a dangerous sniper to watch.
And Kessel still knows he'll face an angry Garden crowd on Thursday, even if claims that he enjoyed his time in Boston.
The Bruins are expected to give Tim Thomas the start in this one, while Adam McQuaid will play his first game of the year in place of injured Johnny Boychuk on defense. The complete projected lines can be found here, while a full breakdown of the matchup can be read here.
4 p.m.: The Bruins and Maple Leafs meet for the first time this season on Thursday night, but the face-off will be a little later than usual.
In addition to being treated with renditions of both the U.S. and Canadian anthems by Rene Rancourt because Toronto is in town, the Bruins will also honor Milt Schmidt before the contest.
"Milt Schmidt Night" will feature the unveiling of special exhibit dedicated to the Bruins great at the New England Sports Museum, as well as an on-ice ceremony honoring the only man to serve as a player, captain, coach and general manager with the Bruins.
Schmidt figured in four of Boston's five Stanley Cup championships in his various roles, winning titles as a player in 1939 and 1941 and as a GM in 1070 and 1972. A Hart Trophy and Art Ross winner during his playing days, Schmidt was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1961.
8 a.m.: The Bruins get back into action on Thursday after a four-day break between games, but there shouldn't be any trouble getting up to speed for this one.
Boston will be looking to bounce back from Saturday's 3-2 loss to the Rangers and couldn't have a better opponent on tap than Toronto. The Bruins-Leafs rivalry was rekindled in a big way last year after Boston traded Phil Kessel to Toronto for three draft picks, the first of which produced No. 2 overall selection Tyler Seguin.
Boston held Kessel to no goals and just one assist while going 4-1-1 against Toronto last year, and would love to shut down Toronto's top scorer again this season. But Kessel and the Leafs are out for a measure of revenge themselves.
With the physical style both of these clubs employ, this should be a very hard-fought and highly entertaining contest sure to provide Hub hockey fans with a memorable night at the Garden.
The puck drops at 7 p.m. at the Garden, so check back here throughout the day for updates on all the action.
