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Energy-filled Maple Leafs take on Bruins

Nov 6, 2008 - 11:25 AM Toronto (5-4-4) at Boston (6-3-3), 7:00 pm EST

BOSTON (Ticker) -- The Toronto Maple Leafs have learned the hard way that a potent offense never will negate a lifeless defense.

After a string of several impressive offensive efforts, the Maple Leafs look to firm up their defense when they visit the Boston Bruins in a battle of Northeast Division rivals on Thursday.

Toronto has scored 21 goals in its last five games but is just 2-2-1 in that span as it has yielded just as many tallies.

The Maple Leafs' offense was in top form again on Tuesday, but it was not enough to secure a victory. Toronto fell into a 4-1 hole in the first period against the Carolina Hurricanes and eventually spoiled a thrilling comeback with a 5-4 overtime loss.

After dropping the first game of the home-and-home series on Sunday, the Maple Leafs rallied back as Mikhail Grabovski capped his second straight two-goal performance early in the third period to forge a 4-4 tie. But in the end, Carolina defenseman Niclas Wallin scored 1:52 into overtime, handing Toronto its second straight setback.

The Maple Leafs have outshot their opponents in eight consecutive games and have registered at least 35 shots in seven of their last eight. They outshot the Hurricanes, 27-8, over the final 40 minutes of regulation and by a 42-24 overall margin.

Boston has won four of its last five, mostly because of Tim Thomas' brilliance. The 34-year-old goaltender recorded back-to-back shutouts against the Edmonton Oilers and Vancouver Canucks last week and shined in the team's last game - a 5-1 win over the Dallas Stars on Saturday.

He was backed by Marco Sturm's two-goal effort and Patrice Bergeron, who netted his third tally of the season. After missing all but 10 games last season due to a concussion, Bergeron also has five assists in 12 games.