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# Preview: Leafs in Boston
- URL: https://www.pensionplanpuppets.com/preview-leafs-in-boston/
- Published: 2023-11-02T15:55:51.000Z
- Updated: 2023-11-02T15:55:51.000Z
- Description: Samsonov to face the Bruins.
- Author: Cathy Squires
- Tags: Game Coverage

### Toronto Maple Leafs @ Boston Bruins  
07:30 PM at TD Garden  
Watch on: ESPN+, HULU, TVAS, SNO

### 

Note the time.

The Leafs last game was at home on October 31 against the Los Angeles Kings, which Toronto lost by a score of 4-1\. The Leafs have a record of 5-3-1 so far.

The Boston Bruins last played at home on October 30 against the Florida Panthers. The Bruins won by a score of 3-2, and their current league record is 8-0-1.

### Them

The Bruins have a regular season cheat code, and it is, essentially, two goalies who are both playing well. Again. By Moneypuck's reckoning, Jeremy Swayman is the only goalie in the NHL with better results – just barely – than Joe Woll. 

It's not like the rest of the team has been low quality, but they don't dominate at five-on-five like the Bruins of a few years back. They actually need the hot goalie to carry on winning most of their games. 

The Bruins have switched over to more reliance on the quality of their defence, but we won't see half of it tonight. Matt Grzelcyk is injured and Charlie McAvoy is suspended. Forward, Jakub Lauko was cut on the face by a skate, and is out as well. 

Lines are from a practice where some players had maintenance days, but this is the current expected configuration. Milan Lucic is listed as a game-time decision. 

#### Lines

Scott McLaughlin via [Daily Faceoff](https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/boston-bruins/line-combinations/?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)

Pavel Zacha - Matthew Poitras - David Pastrnak  
Brad Marchand - Charlie Coyle - Jake DeBrusk  
James van Riemsdyk - Morgan Geekie - Trent Frederic  
John Beecher - Patrick Brown - Oskar Steen

Hampus Lindholm - Kevin Shattenkirk  
Mason Lohrei - Brandon Carlo  
Derek Forbort - Ian Mitchell

Jeremy Swayman - expected starter  
Linus Ullmark

### Us

Lines at morning skate are unchanged from the last game. 

Conor Timmins is now skating, but is not close to returning. Jake McCabe is not on the trip, but is more like day-to-day right now. 

#### Lines

Calle Järnkrok - Auston Matthews - Mitch Marner  
Tyler Bertuzzi - John Tavares - William Nylander  
Matt Knies - David Kämpf - Max Domi  
Noah Gregor - Pontus Holmberg - Ryan Reaves

Morgan Rielly - TJ Brodie  
Mark Giordano - Timothy Liljegren  
William Lagesson - John Klingberg

Ilya Samsonov - assumed starter  
Joe Woll

### The Game

The Leafs need to bring their real game from the top line down. Everyone – every single player – was slow, stupid and disconnected in the last game. Fine, you were all coming down off the road trip. You get that excuse once, now it's used up for the entire season. This is the game you get to be back up for. 

Samsonov's last start approached average quality overall, a marked improvement for him. The Leafs need him to get back to something above average. Why not start now?