3 Keys: Bruins @ Maple Leafs- 11/10/17

The Toronto Maple Leafs will play host to the Boston Bruins tonight. The Leafs are coming off of a 4-2 win over the Minnesota Wild on Wednesday night, while the Bruins are coming off of a 4-2 loss to the New York Rangers on Wednesday night.

Here are three keys to this Atlantic Division matchup:

1.) EVEN STRENGTH PLAY- MAPLE LEAFS

The Leafs are going to need to play a solid game at even strength and avoid costly turnovers. The Bruins are in the top six of the NHL in both power play and penalty kill percentage. Toronto has played okay at even strength but could be better this year. Auston Matthews missed Wednesday's game with an upper body injury, and could very well miss both of the home-and-home game with the Bruins. should that happen then players need to step up to help produce. The Maple Leafs will need to be strong on the puck, win the board battles and establish a forecheck early in the game to win the battle at even strength.

2.) SPECIAL TEAMS- BRUINS

The Bruins have been very good on special teams this season so far, and that will need to continue against the Leafs. Boston is has converted on 12 of its 51 power play opportunities, but they have also given up two shorthanded goals. The Bruins power play is operating at 23.5%, which is good for sixth in the League. Boston have only allowed six power play goals against while being shorthanded 48 times this year, and they have also scored twice while on the penalty kill. The Bruins will need to continue its stellar special teams play since the Leafs have a decent power play themselves, and can put the puck in the net.

5.) GOALTENDING- MAPLE LEAFS & BRUINS

The goalies for each team have been decent this season, but they could be better in making some timely saves. Tuukka Rask has been the main goalie for the Bruins this year and is 3-5-2 is 10 games played this year. He has a 2.76 goals against average, .903 save percentage and as allowed 27 goals. Anton Khudobin is 3-0-1 in five games played, and has a 2.52 goals against and a .926 save percentage. Frederik Andersen is 9-6-0 in 15 games this year to go with a 3.33 goals against and .898 save percentage. Andersen has let in some soft goals this year at key times during games. Curtis McElhinney has only played in two games, and has allowed eight goals.

Leafs Notes: Weekly Preview 10/8/17-10/14/17

The Toronto Maple Leafs will starts its week at home and end it on the road. 

The Leafs will face the Chicago Blackhawks, New Jersey Devils and the Montreal Canadiens.  The Leafs and Blackhawks will be an interesting matchup since they have each scored 15 goals in two games to start the season. 

The Maple Leafs need to play a solid defensive game or it could be along game for this team. They have the ability to put the puck in the net, but so do the Blackhawks. Toronto will want to get shots on goals and test Anton Forsberg early because this will be his first game action of the year. Toronto needs to get the first goal and be smart with the puck, avoiding those pesky turnovers. The Maple Leafs are going to have to keep an eye on Brandon Saad, Patrick Kane and Duncan Keith since they all have decent career numbers against Toronto. 

The Blackhawks are of to a good start especially offensively, but they haven't given up much defensively either. The Hawks are going to want to pressure the defense of the Leafs especially the third pairing if the two rookies, Andreas Borgman and Calle Rosen, start the game. Connor Carrick is a game-time decision for the Leafs after suffering  an injury last game. Chicago is going to have to watch out for the speed of the Maple Leafs, who create a lot off the use of its speed. The Blackhawks are going to have to capitalize on the mistakes that the Leafs are going to make. 

On Wednesday night, the Devils make the trip to Air Canada Centre. The Leafs are going to need to stop the speed of the Devils and keep an eye on the defense since they aren't afraid to join the offensive play. Toronto needs to get the first goal to keep the crowd in the game and keep the top six of the Devils off the board. They'll need to play a smart game and keep the turnovers to a minimum because the Devils can and will make a team pay for turnovers. 

New Jersey needs to attack the Leafs and make it hard for them to get through the neutral zone with speed. The Devils need to play a sound, defensive road game because Toronto has no problem a fast-paced back-and-forth pond hockey type game. New Jersey needs to elevate the puck and get rebounds chances since both Frederik Andersen and Curtis McElhinney have good career numbers against them. If the Devils can get the first goal then they'll need to keep attacking and not sit back for the rest of the game. 

The Maple Leafs end their week with a divisional match against the Habs in Montreal. The Maple Leafs need to get off to a fast start that includes a decent forecheck and cycle game. Toronto needs to make sure that they have the lead after the first period, and if they do, don't take their feet off the gas. The Leafs need to get pucks on net whenever they have the chance and get traffic in front of the opposing goalie. Toronto is going to need to keep an eye on Tomas Plekanec since he has had a ton of success in his career against the them (69 gp,16 g, 27a, 43 its).

The Habs need to find a way to score some goals, which is not something new they are facing. They also had a lack of offense last year, but Carey Price bailed them out most games. Montreal needs to get the power play going, and start throwing pucks on net. The Habs are dangerous on the penalty kill as they already have two shorthanded goals for this year compared to their one goal at even strength. They need to get the first goal and build off of its momentum and the home crowd.