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Game 4: Leafs vs Bruins; hot at home

April 19, 2018, 8:46 AM ET [213 Comments]
Lucas Neilson
Blogger •Atlantic Division Writer • RSSArchiveCONTACT
So far in this series it’s been all about home ice advantage. The Bruins won the first two games of the series in Boston and the Leafs won last game at home and you can bet they will be victorious tonight.

The Maple Leafs didn’t play their style of game when they were in Boston, perhaps it was the excitement of the playoffs or just the fact that Boston seems to be a more physical team. Physical is one thing, dirty is another and it’s a joke watching Marchand run around out there like the goofball he is; meanwhile Kadri is suspended for a hit that was nothing more than a two minute penalty.

Sure Kadri has a reputation and a history, so I was expecting a game suspension at most; just because it really was a stupid play. But it’s as if Marchand is some goodie two shoe here, this guy is looking to give someone a cheap shot at any time.

Anyways, enough about the rat; he will get what’s coming to him one day and you can be sure it will be a YouTube sensation.

Back when the series started I talked about the addition of Patrick Marleau and how his playoff experience and production was going to be a factor. So far so good for Patty, he and Marner have had a bundle of connections and it looks like he’s enjoying his stint with the Leafs thus far. Speaking of Marner, he looks incredible out there. He’s playing the best hockey of his NHL career and he’s more than dangerous with the puck. Marner “the Orchard” has continued to live up to his name and has some of the slickest moves and most beautifully feathered passing the league has seen.

Winning tonight is key for the Leafs. The injection of Kadri into the lineup on Saturday will help the Leafs add some talent down the middle, some grit and beef up the forward lines giving Babcock more options.

The way Andersen played the majority of last game shows he’s settled in and he’s forgotten about his stinker in Boston. He’s been unreal all season long and will be a big factor again tonight when the Leafs try to shut down that first line of Boston. We all knew going into the series that the Bruins have the powerhouse line and if they can do a decent job at shutting it down they have a good chance at winning the series.

Babcock has made a few adjustments, partially because of the Kadri suspension but also because the Leafs needed to make a few tweaks as Babs knows best.

It’s not very often that the Leafs Auston Matthews goes on a scoring slump of any kind. He was red hot leading into the playoffs but was unable to bury in game one or two. After scoring an absolute snipe last game and celebrating with such raw emotion you know big Auston will be feeling it tonight and will be hungry to fly back into Beantown with the series tied at two.

Hope you are primed and ready, tonight’s a big one. Let’s get at it.

Thanks for reading,

Go Leafs Go!
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