NNN: Do what now?

His leaguewide reputation may say otherwise, but Tim Thomas has calmed down his game. Thomas, widely known as an unorthodox goalie, has evolved into a more efficient butterfly puckstopper who pulls out the crazy stuff only when necessary - The Boston Globe

I don't know many calm butterfly goalies who routinely end up laying on their back staring at the net scrambling to make saves, but go get 'em Boston Globe!

Last night, when the buzzing Maple Leafs threw puck after puck at the Boston net - not to mention bodies crashing the crease at all times - Thomas had to revert to the acrobatics.

Oh, rats. The Boston Globe is oddly complimentary to the Leafs. Maybe they feel a certain kinship with the style of hockey Toronto plays.

Under first-year coach Ron Wilson, the Leafs have assumed an identity similar to that of the 2007-08 Bruins: a lunchpail bunch that drives to the dirty areas and hunts for garbage goals. Early in the game, after the Leafs drove to the net and got bodies in front, Thomas knew he would have to work harder than usual to track down pucks.

Well, that's something positive at least. The Bruins are a force in the East right now after squeaking into the playoffs last year, and missing them the year prior. Montreal is a major player in the East this year and they were last year, though they missed the playoffs thanks to the Leafs in 06-07.

Enough about Thomas though, let's talk about goalies who don't stop the puck.

Vexing Toskala A Concern For Leafs

No. 1 goaltender allows more soft goals as Bruins score early and hang on to win - The Star

Yeah, that seems about right.

"He just beat me, it was a bad goal, I have to make the save," Toskala said of Phil Kessel's opening goal, a wrist shot that saw Toskala drop to his knees too late to prevent the puck from trickling under him and across the goal line.

At least Toskala can admit this. The Leafs have four days to prep their goaltender so that going forward they can stop doing this. Being first in the conference in goals doesn't mean anything if you're also last in goals against.

The Leafs have now fallen behind two goals or more in nine of their 19 games, and comebacks are much harder to come by now that teams are hitting mid-season form.

This is absolutely true. It's easy to be the Come Back Kids in October. So far, for Toronto, it's been a lot harder in November.