Will The Leafs Compete Tonight?

The last time the Boston Bruins were at the Air Canada Center they dominated the home team by a score of 4-1. The score doesn't really indicate how badly the Leafs were outplayed as they were booed off the ice. What was disturbing was their total lack of effort.

Since that game the Leafs are 5-1-1. While they have had a propensity to give up the first goal, their energy level has been ratcheted up immensely. During these seven games they have lost Joffrey Lupul and Daniel Winnik but they have been able to persevere. Peter Holland has been elevated to the third line with Mike Santorelli and Leo Komorov and he is showing why many believe that he can be a top 6 forward. The Leafs also seem to be getting secondary scoring to compliment the big line of Phil Kessel, James van Reimsdyk and Tyler Bozak. 

The Leafs seem to be playing a more gritty game led by the likes of Santorelli, Komorov and guys like Sam Carrick. Richard Panik seems to be settling in and showing why Steve Yzerman didn't want to part with him. The Leafs will need all four lines to use their speed and be aggressive on the forecheck. And it goes without saying that they need to be defensively responsible in their own end.

While it is still very early in the season, tonight's game is a good measuring stick for this Leaf team. No one believes that Toronto is a legitimate Stanley Cup contender but if they are going to be a playoff team then the Leafs need to have a better effort against one of the top teams in the league. A win would be great but I'm looking for a an effort worthy of a team who desperately wants to make the playoffs. The Bruins have been the big bully who kicks sand in the Leafs face. It's time for the Leafs to take a stand. The game will be nationally televised in the U.S. on NBC Sports Network's Rivalry Night. Puck drop is at 8 pm.