What Happens When The Bruins Take On An AHL Team? This, Apparently

Following Monday night's humbling 5-1 loss to Toronto, Boston Bruins' coach Dave Tippet called the affair Boston's worst outing all season.

Dave, be careful how you challenge your team. Sometimes they might just go out and prove you wrong.

The two teams squared off for a rematch in Boston Thursday night, and the B's did just that. The Bruins not only served up their worst game of the season, easily outpacing the sheer godawfulness of Tuesday night, they also served up one of the worst games of hockey we've ever had the misfortune of sitting through, on route to an eventual 10-2 loss.

The Bruins defence was non-existent, and their goaltending from Tim Thomas (and his eventual replacement, Philip Suave) was softer than the scattered cheers in the lonely looking TD Banknorth Center. In fact, the loudest cheers were reserved for the announcer when he declared to the few faithful who remained, "Last minute of the third period". More welcome words are seldom uttered.

The Leafs got some lucky bounces, sure, but it was Boston's D that rolled out the red carpet, and it was the goaltenders who opened the door for them (Particularly Steen's third. That was ugly)

The ten goals are even more impressive when you consider who the Leafs had on the ice. We'll be blunt, they iced a team of nobodies. Darcy Tucker rejoined the disabled list, meaning that any semblance of veteran presence on the Toronto's roster was wiped away. But that's the great thing about young players, they have this funny habit of stepping up right when they have to.

Look at the score sheet. Ten goals and all Mats Sundin and Jeff O'Neil had to show for it was one assist a piece, Bryan McCabe nada. But Alex Steen, he of ten points in forty games, scored his first career hatrick. Matty Stajan, not doing much better, had a pair of assists to go with his two goals. Johnny Pohl notched a goal and an assist, and the line of Second Chances (Devereaux and Battaglia) combined for five points themself. Kris Newbury kept the pace up, providing a goal and assist, for three points in his two career games.

In other words, the Bruins were burned by a bunch of players who spent last season in the AHL. As if their night wasn't bad enough.

It's easy to cheer for a team that scores ten goals,

Jason