I know some of my friends to the north are gonna appreciate this. 
Leaf peaking season
Against Toronto, Bruins are fall guys
The Maple Leafs are like that obnoxious guy next door, the one you can't get out of your house after a party. They aren't bad guys, but they certainly know how to annoy you.
Well, the Bruins can say goodbye and finally close the door on this north-of-the border neighbor. And, none too soon, especially after last night's 2-1 heartbreaker at the FleetCenter moved the pesky Leafs into a tie with the Bruins in the Northeast Division.
Toronto has had the Bruins' number all season, winning four of five meetings; the Bruins' only victory was a 2-1 overtime decision. Boston, which has been averaging more than three goals per game, have only four goals against the Maple Leafs.
It's a team the Bruins would do better to avoid when the playoffs begin in April.
''They played well against us,'' said Bruins coach Robbie Ftorek. ''We've had problems scoring on them this year. Other teams have had opportunities and they've been able to score on them. So we just have to find a way to score.''
Ftorek said Toronto's aggressive forechecking has been giving the Bruins problems. ''You got to get the puck out of the zone and if you don't get the puck out of the zone, you're in trouble. They are good at clogging up the neutral zone, too.''
Nick Boynton is tired of the Maple Leafs. ''I don't think they do anything different,'' said the rookie defenseman. ''I don't know what the problem is. We just kind of get off our game a little bit. I don't know if it is that they frustrate us or what it is. We just struggle with them.''
Benoit Hogue hasn't been around all season, but he knows about the problems with the Maple Leafs. ''I think we are similar teams,'' said Hogue. ''I think we both clog the neutral zone and take plays away. They are a similar team with good speed and move the puck well and have good goaltending.
''They don't give you much and we don't give them much. It just ends up with who puts it in the net.''
Glen Murray is frustrated as well. He says the Bruins' problem is their effort. ''We just didn't come to play 60 minutes of hockey, they did,'' said Murray. ''It was a playoff atmosphere and you have to be ready for that. They've had our number all year. There is no question about it. They've come in here and worked hard and we have played only one good period each game. Give credit to them. They've played a great game every time they faced us.''
Brian Rolston said it was a matter of being prepared. ''They are a good hockey team, but you've got to check them. They are fairly good in the defensive zone.''
Ftorek isn't going to worry about the Maple Leafs. He has other things on his mind. He won't try to devise a way to beat them, either. The teams won't meet again this season unless they square off in the playoffs. Is he concerned about that?
''Doesn't matter,'' said Ftorek. ''If someone else knocks them off, that's fine. If they don't and we play them again, we'll try to knock them off.
''You don't look forward to playing anybody or not playing anybody. You only prepare for the next game. After the last day of the season, that's when you prepare for the playoffs. Right now, we're looking toward Detroit. You can't think about who you might play in the playoffs.''
Leaf peaking season
Against Toronto, Bruins are fall guys
The Maple Leafs are like that obnoxious guy next door, the one you can't get out of your house after a party. They aren't bad guys, but they certainly know how to annoy you.
Well, the Bruins can say goodbye and finally close the door on this north-of-the border neighbor. And, none too soon, especially after last night's 2-1 heartbreaker at the FleetCenter moved the pesky Leafs into a tie with the Bruins in the Northeast Division.
Toronto has had the Bruins' number all season, winning four of five meetings; the Bruins' only victory was a 2-1 overtime decision. Boston, which has been averaging more than three goals per game, have only four goals against the Maple Leafs.
It's a team the Bruins would do better to avoid when the playoffs begin in April.
''They played well against us,'' said Bruins coach Robbie Ftorek. ''We've had problems scoring on them this year. Other teams have had opportunities and they've been able to score on them. So we just have to find a way to score.''
Ftorek said Toronto's aggressive forechecking has been giving the Bruins problems. ''You got to get the puck out of the zone and if you don't get the puck out of the zone, you're in trouble. They are good at clogging up the neutral zone, too.''
Nick Boynton is tired of the Maple Leafs. ''I don't think they do anything different,'' said the rookie defenseman. ''I don't know what the problem is. We just kind of get off our game a little bit. I don't know if it is that they frustrate us or what it is. We just struggle with them.''
Benoit Hogue hasn't been around all season, but he knows about the problems with the Maple Leafs. ''I think we are similar teams,'' said Hogue. ''I think we both clog the neutral zone and take plays away. They are a similar team with good speed and move the puck well and have good goaltending.
''They don't give you much and we don't give them much. It just ends up with who puts it in the net.''
Glen Murray is frustrated as well. He says the Bruins' problem is their effort. ''We just didn't come to play 60 minutes of hockey, they did,'' said Murray. ''It was a playoff atmosphere and you have to be ready for that. They've had our number all year. There is no question about it. They've come in here and worked hard and we have played only one good period each game. Give credit to them. They've played a great game every time they faced us.''
Brian Rolston said it was a matter of being prepared. ''They are a good hockey team, but you've got to check them. They are fairly good in the defensive zone.''
Ftorek isn't going to worry about the Maple Leafs. He has other things on his mind. He won't try to devise a way to beat them, either. The teams won't meet again this season unless they square off in the playoffs. Is he concerned about that?
''Doesn't matter,'' said Ftorek. ''If someone else knocks them off, that's fine. If they don't and we play them again, we'll try to knock them off.
''You don't look forward to playing anybody or not playing anybody. You only prepare for the next game. After the last day of the season, that's when you prepare for the playoffs. Right now, we're looking toward Detroit. You can't think about who you might play in the playoffs.''
