The Bruins are now 3-4-0 on the season and will look to pull back to .500 on Saturday when they host Joe Thornton and the Sharks. the Leafs fall to 4-1-1 with their first regulation loss.
Third Period, 17:15, Bruins 6-2: Getting a little nasty now, as Lupul almost goes knee on knee with Kampfer, then Colton Orr shoves with Krejci.
Third Period, 15:08, Bruins 6-2: Leafs tough guy Jay Rosehill looking to stir it up late with a healthy run at Dennis Seidenberg, but Shawn Thornton was at the other end of the ice and nothing further develops on that shift.
That will bear watching in the closing minutes to see if Toronto tries to send any messages as the clubs still meet five more times this season.
Third Period, 12:32, Bruins 6-2: The Leafs finally answer as Mikhail Grabovski gets one past Tim Thomas.
Third Period, 11:43, Bruins 6-1: The Bruins add yet another, with Tyler Seguin scoring this one as the "Thank You Kessel" chants rain down at the Garden.
Seguin scored from the low slot off a feed from Lucic out of the left corner.
Third Period, 10:08, Bruins 5-1: The Bruins add another, with Patrice Bergeron getting in on the act with a wrister from the slot.
Nathan Horton and Zdeno Chara pick up the assists as the Bruins extend the lead to four goals.
Third Period, 7:51, Bruins 4-1: Thomas with another big stop, robbing Joffrey Lupul on a point-blank bid from the top of the crease. Thomas has been on his game throughout this one.
Third Period, 4:50, Bruins 4-1: The Bruins can't convert that power-play chance and are now 2 for 5 on the night after scoring on their first two opportunities.
Third Period, 2:50, Bruins 4-1: The Bruins now go back on the power play as Toronto forward Mike Brown is called for tripping.
Third Period, 2:08, Bruins 4-1: The Bruins add an important insurance goal on a great rush by Tyler Seguin and Milan Lucic.
Seguin broke down the right wing, shrugged off a hook from Dion Phaneuf and fed Lucic for the tap-in at the top of the crease.
Third Period, 0:00, Bruins 3-1: The final frame is under way here at the Garden as the Bruins look to close out this win and hand the Leafs their first regulation loss of the season.
Second Intermission Notes: The Bruins didn't play as strong a second period as they did in the first, but they didn't allow the Leafs to cut into their lead at all and take a 3-1 advantage into the third.
Toronto outshot Boston 14-11 in the second, thanks largely to three Boston penalties. But the Bruins came up big on the penalty kill and Tim Thomas was very sharp.
David Krejci has played 12:34 so far with three shots and is 10-3 on draws, helping the Bruins win 57 percent of the faceoffs overall. Steven Kampfer has played just 5:43 with no shots, one hit and a blocked shot.
Zdeno Chara was been a big presence all night, leading the Bruins in ice time at 18:11 and shots with five, to go with two hits, a blocked shot, a goal and an assist. He's helped keep NHL leading scorer Phil Kessel quiet. Kessel has no points in 14:43 and just one shot. He came into the night with 7-5-12 totals in his first five games.
End Second Period, Bruins 3-1: The second period was a sloppy one for the Bruins, but they survive thanks to some strong penalty killing and good work by Tim Thomas to maintain their two-goal lead.
Thomas denied David Steckel on a point-black bid with 20 seconds left in the period, then turned aside a Phil Kessel shot in the closing seconds.
Second Period, 17:48, Bruins 3-1: The Bruins continue their strong special-teams play as they kill off another penalty and are back at even strength.
Second Period, 15:48, Bruins 3-1: The Bruins are shorthanded again as a turnover in the neutral zone leads to a chance in front and Joe Corvo is forced to take down Matt Frattin and gets called for hooking.
Second Period, 13:45, Bruins 3-1: The Bruins can't score on that power play either as it remains a two-goal lead for Boston.
Second Period, 11:45, Bruins 3-1: The Bruins get another power play as Kadri is called for an illegal hit to the head for a check on Kampfer in the Boston zone.
Second Period, 11:31, Bruins 3-1: The Leafs with a couple of serious threats, but they can't convert. Boychuk had his pocket picked in front by Steckel, but the Bruins were able to prevent it from leading to a quality scoring chance. Nazem Kadri then broke down the left wing with speed, but his shot hit off the near post and stayed out.
Second Period, 8:50, Bruins 3-1: The sides are back even as all the penalties have expired with no scoring, though both teams had golden chances.
Rich Peverley nearly scored off a feed from Chris kelly in front, then grabovski was robbed by Thomas when he came in on a clean breakaway straight from the box.
Second Period, 6:50, Bruins 3-1: It doesn't stay 4 on 4 for long, as Johnny Boychuk is called for hooking as the parade to the penalty box continues. The Leafs will now have a brief 4-on-3 power play.
Second Period, 6:33, Bruins 3-1: The Leafs squander that chance as Mikhail Grabovski gets called for holding the stick. That came after Marchand nearly scored on a great shorthanded rush down the right side. It will be 4 on 4 for the next 53 seconds.
Second Period, 5:26, Bruins 3-1: The Bruins will now be shorthanded as Zdeno Chara is called for tripping up Tyler Bozak driving to the net.
Second Period, 4:57, Bruins 3-1: The Bruins' power-play streak ends at three, but Boston did create several very good scoring chances on that opportunity.
Second Period, 2:57, Bruins 3-1: The Bruins get another power-play chance early in the second as David Steckel goes off for tripping.
Second Period, 0:00, Bruins 3-1: The middle frame is under way here at the Garden, with the Bruins looking to build off their strong effort in the opening period.
First Intermission Notes: A strong statement period by the Bruins, who played physical but disciplined and got the power play going to take a 3-1 lead after 20 minutes.
The Bruins scored on each of their two power-play opportunities and now have converted three straight after an 0 for 22 skid. Andrew Ference is the surprise sparkplug with three assists to tie a career high.
David Krejci played 6:00 over eight shifts in his first game back. He had two shots, including a good scoring chance on his first shift, and also has a takeaway and is 7-1 on facoffs. Steven Kampfer played just 3:33 in his return, with one hit and no shots.
Nathan Horton looks like he's trying to make up for Tuesday's costly penalties. He got things going with Boston's first power-play goal and has stayed out of the box so far. And Shawn Thornton finally got back in the box, setting the tone with an early scrap with Colton Orr. That's Thornton's first fight of the season and his first penalty in 17 regular-season games.
End First Period, Bruins 3-1: The opening 20 minutes are in the books, and the Bruins couldn't have scripted a much better start. After giving up an early goal, they were all over the Leafs, posting an 18-7 edge in shots and taking a 3-1 lead into the first intermission.
First Period, 17:49, Bruins 3-1: The Bruins extend the lead as Chris Kelly gets into the act with an even-strength tally.
Kelly was stopped on his first attempt from the top of the crease, but lifted his own rebound up and over Gustavsson for the score. Lucic and Ference get the assists, with Ference tying a career high with three assists in this game.
First Period, 16:05, Bruins 2-1: The Bruins strike again on the power play, with Zdeno Chara giving Boston its first lead of the night.
Chara one-timed a pass from Andrew Ference in the low right circle. Tyler Seguin gets the second assist as the Bruins convert their third straight power-play opportunity.
First Period, 15:24, 1-1: Benoit Pouliot atones for his earlier tripping call by drawing one on Joffrey Lupul. The Bruins go back on the power play and will try to convert their third straight chance with the man advantage.
First Period, 13:41, 1-1: The Bruins successfully kill that penalty off. They have a 14-5 lead in shots at this point, but it remains a tei game.
First Period, 11:41, 1-1: The Bruins are shorthanded for the first time in this one as Benoit Pouliot takes a tripping penalty. Important kill here for the Bruins to maintain the momentum they've built.
First Period, 10:32, 1-1: The Bruins answer right back as Nathan Horton scores on the power play to even the game at 1-1.
Horton banged home a rebound at the right post after Zdeno Chara sent in the initial bid from the right point. Andrew Feremce gets the second assist as the Bruins are now 2 for 2 on the power play after an 0 for 22 skid.
First Period, 9:23, Maple Leafs 1-0: The Bruins will have a chance to tie it with the game's first power play as Matt Frattin goes off for interference.
Boston finally ended its long power-play drought on Tuesday, and will look to build off that here.
First Period, 7:29, Maple Leafs 1-0: The Leafs strike first as David Steckel rips a wrister in from the high slot to beat Thomas.
That came just seconds after Milan Lucic leveled Dion Phanuef with a huge hit in front of the Toronto bench.
First Period, 6:02, 0-0: Daniel Paille misses a golden chance to open the scoring as he can't put the puck in an open net on a bad-angle rebound behind Gustavsson. Rich Peverley, skating in Thornton's spot while Thornton serves his fighting penalty, had the initial shot from the left slot.
First Period, 1:54, 0-0: First shift for the fourth lines and Shawn Thornton and Colton Orr drop the gloves off the faceoff. Good long scrap with both landing some blows. Linesmen come in when Thornton gets Orr's jersey up over his head.
First Period, 0:43, 0-0: On his first shift back, Krejci breaks in alone for a chance after two Leafs collide in the neutral zone, but Gustavsson snares his backhand bid.
First Period, 0:00, 0-0: We're under way here at the Garden, with the Bruins looking to bounce back from Tuesday's loss to Carolina as they take on Phil Kessel and Toronto in a Northeast Division clash.
7 p.m.: The Bruins will open with Patrice Bergeron centering Brad Marchand and Nathan Horton, with Zdeno Chara and Johnny Boychuk on defense and Tim Thomas in goal.
The Leafs counter with Joffrey Lupul, David Steckel and Phil Kessel up front, Dion Phaneuf and Carl Gunnarsson on the blue line and Jonas Gustavsson in net. Kessel's introduction is booed as usual by the Garden faithful.
6:55 p.m.: David Krejci is officially in the lineup for the Bruins, returning after missing the last three games with a core injury.
Jordan Caron is the scratch up front. Steven Kampfer also returns from a knee injury to make his season debut in this one.
The Leafs are ready for battle, as both heavyweight Colton Orr and fellow tough guy Jay Rosehill are in the lineup. Clarke MacArthur, Pascal Dupuis and Mike Komisarek are the Toronto scratches.
6:45 p.m.: David Krejci skated in warm-ups and centered Benoit Pouliot and Rich Peverley in the line rushes, a strong indication that he will return to action in this one. Still awaiting official word though.
Here's the full line combinations from the warm-up:
Lucic-kelly-Seguin
Marchand-Bergeron-Horton
Pouliot-Krejci-Peverley
Paille-Campbell-Thornton
Defense pairs:
Chara-Boychuk
Seidenberg-Corvo
Ference-Kampfer
6:30 p.m.: The teams have taken the ice for warm-ups. Tim Thomas led the Bruins out and will get the start in goal.
Jonas Gustavsson led the Leafs onto the ice and will be in the net for Toronto.
6 p.m.: The Bruins and Leafs will clash for the first of six times this season in just about an hour here at the Garden.
Tim Thomas and Jonas Gustavsson are expected to be in goal, but there are plenty of questions about who will be playing in front of those netminders.
Adam McQuaid (neck) has been ruled out for the Bruins, while Steven Kampfer (knee) is expected to return and David Krejci (core) is a game-time decision. The Leafs will be without Colby Armstrong, who did not make the trip to Boston, and could be without Clarke MacArthur. Both of those forwards were injured in Wednesday's win over Winnipeg.
8 a.m. ET: It was a memorable night of mayhem at the Garden on Tuesday, but one which the Bruins would just as soon forget after piling up 72 penalty minutes in a 4-1 loss to Carolina.
That dropped the reigning champs to 2-4-0 this season, but they'll get a chance to get back on track on Thursday when Toronto visits Boston in the second game of the Bruins' four-game homestand.
The Maple Leafs come in red hot at 4-0-1, but they could also be a bit tired. Toronto took a 4-3 decision over Winnipeg on Wednesday, but had to go to a shootout to do it. No one is hotter than former Bruin forward Phil Kessel, who had a goal and two assists against the Jets and now leads the entire NHL with 7-5-12 totals through five games.
After plenty of struggles early against his old team, Kessel also seems to have finally solved playing against the Bruins. He had no goals and just one assist in his first nine games against Boston, but had 2-3-5 totals in his last three games versus the Bruins.
The Leafs, and Kessel, have started fast before. Last year they opened 4-0-0, then proceeded to win just one of their next 12 games en route to missing the playoffs for the sixth straight season.
The Bruins could get some reinforcements for this game. Center David Krejci (core injury) practiced Wednesday and estimated he had a 50-50 chance of playing against Toronto. Defenseman Steven Kampfer (knee) was cleared for contact on Wednesday and could be a game-time decision. The Bruins could use him, as fellow blueliner Adam McQuaid (neck) did not practice on Wednesday and is likely to miss his third straight game.
The puck drops at 7 p.m., so check back here for updates on all the action from the Garden.
