Preview: Leafs in Boston for the first time this year

The Toronto Maple Leafs recently lost at home to the St. Louis Blues, finishing with a 5-1 defeat, bringing their record to 4-4-0. Meanwhile, the Boston Bruins faced a similar fate against the Dallas Stars, losing 5-2 and holding a record of 3-4-1. Both teams are struggling, with narratives suggesting they are nearly identical in their performance issues.

Fans are eager to dissect the reasons behind the Bruins’ struggles, pointing to a lack of offensive strength that coaching and defense can’t compensate for. Their five-on-five Corsi percentage is a dismal 44%, ranking 28th in the NHL, with an Expected Goals figure of 45, placing them 29th. These stats suggest they are underperforming given the talent on their roster, especially since they’ve had decent goaltending to boost their goals percentage. Their offensive pace is lacking, and they sit near the bottom in Expected Goals For.

On the other hand, the Leafs are facing scrutiny for their performance, leading to calls for major changes. Their power play has improved slightly in Expected Goals rate but still lacks goal conversion. The core issue lies in their offensive quality, which has been subpar. While they maintain puck possession and look effective in the neutral zone, their offensive output is disappointing, even with players like Anthony Stolarz adding value.

Both teams are set for an interesting matchup, with line adjustments and a need to capitalize on opportunities. The Leafs’ recent lines feature a solid top trio, while the Bruins are working to find combinations that can generate more offense. For the Leafs, the keys to success involve improving puck management, maintaining defensive standards, and enhancing their power play to become more competitive.