The Toronto Maple Leafs and Boston Bruins reignite their fierce rivalry this Saturday with their first face-off of the 2024-25 regular season at TD Garden, scheduled for 7 p.m. ET on NHLN, NESN, SNP, SNO, and CBC.
Both teams are in search of improvement as they navigate the early season challenges.
The Maple Leafs (4-4-0) are currently on a two-game losing streak, having lost three out of their last four. In their recent defeats against the New York Rangers, Columbus Blue Jackets, and St. Louis Blues, Toronto was outscored 15-4. New head coach Craig Berube, who took over for Sheldon Keefe in the offseason, showed visible frustration during a 5-1 defeat to the Blues, his former team, last Thursday. Star center Auston Matthews has managed just three goals in eight games this season after a record-breaking 69 goals last year.
On the other hand, the Bruins (3-4-1) are struggling as well, with an 0-2-1 record in their last three games. Their most recent setback was a 4-0 loss to the Nashville Predators, a team that was previously winless. This was followed by a 5-2 defeat against the Dallas Stars at home on Thursday. Only forwards David Pastrnak (five goals) and Cole Koepke (three goals) have managed to find the back of the net consistently, with captain Brad Marchand still seeking his first goal in eight games.
The significance of this matchup cannot be overstated for both franchises.
Historically, these two teams have sparked competitive play against one another, especially since they began meeting frequently in the Stanley Cup Playoffs in 2018. They have clashed in the first round three times over the last seven seasons, with Boston winning each series in seven games. Last season, Pastrnak scored in overtime of Game 7, once again sending the Maple Leafs home early. The Bruins reached the second round, where they lost to the Florida Panthers, who would go on to win the Stanley Cup.
This offseason, both teams aimed to address their weaknesses by bringing in new players, yet both have had difficulty establishing a consistent game early in the season.
The debate over which team has made the most progress and which newcomers will have the greatest impact on this rivalry is now a topic of discussion among experts. Amalie Benjamin believes Boston has the upper hand, citing improvements on defense and the addition of Nikita Zadorov, who brings physicality to the blue line. However, she notes that the Bruins have surprisingly struggled defensively, ranking near the bottom in goals allowed per game.
Mike Zeisberger counters by agreeing that while the Bruins have made notable improvements, he believes the Maple Leafs may have an advantage due to their new coach. Berube, who brings a strong, accountable coaching style, may be the key to overcoming the postseason difficulties Toronto has faced against Boston in recent years. He noted Berube’s previous success in leading the St. Louis Blues to a Stanley Cup victory in 2019, which included a Game 7 win on the road at TD Garden. The question now is whether Berube can instill the same resilience in his current players.