Toronto, Ontario (My Sportsbook) - The
Boston Bruins try to extend their unbeaten streak to five games tonight when they visit the
Toronto Maple Leafs at Air Canada Centre in the last installment of a season-opening road trip.
After suffering an embarrassing 5-1 loss to Minnesota in the opener, the Bruins have going 3-0-1, including Saturday's 4-3 victory in Edmonton. Rookie Ivan Huml scored the game-winner against the Oilers, deflecting a shot off defenseman Jason Smith and into the net with 4:21 remaining in the third period. The tally secured the win after the Bruins coughed up the lead twice.
Nick Boynton, Brian Rolston and Jozef Stumpel also scored, while another rookie, goaltender Tim Thomas, turned aside 31 saves in his first NHL appearance. Thomas was pressed into duty because John Grahame, who had started the team's first three games, suffered a separated shoulder last Wednesday and is sidelined indefinitely.
Elsewhere on the injury front, winger Sergei Samsonov missed Saturday's game with a wrist injury and is doubtful for tonight's contest. Right wing Martin Lapointe suffered a broke foot on Thursday and is expected to be sidelined for 4-6 weeks.
Tonight's match concludes the Bruins' longest season-opening road stretch in their history. They have twice opened a season with five-game trips, in 1943-44 and 1944-45.
Boston returns home for a brief homestand, facing Ottawa on Thursday. The Atlanta Thrashers then pay a visit Saturday.
Toronto, meanwhile, is 1-0-1 in its last two games after a three-game losing skid. On Saturday the Leafs skated to a 2-2 tie with Montreal, as defenseman Tomas Kaberle tied things with a shorthanded goal midway through the third period. Travis Green also scored for the Maple Leafs, but captain Mats Sundin squandered a chance to win in the first minute of overtime. The Swede star couldn't flip the rebound of his initial shot over Habs goalie Jeff Hackett.
Leafs netminder Ed Belfour returned to the crease after missing four games with an infected finger and made 29 saves. Eddie the Eagle has stopped 62 of the 64 shots fired his way in two starts.
Toronto opens a seven-game homestand tonight, and continues the set Wednesday versus Florida. Also coming to town will be the Rangers, Ducks, Thrashers, Canadiens and Lightning.
Toronto went 4-1 against Boston last season, but the teams have split the last eight clashes overall. The Bruins have dropped their last two games at Air Canada Centre, and is 2-4-2 in their last eight trips here.