Even as Toronto Maple Leafs players tried to forget a humiliating loss to the Boston Bruins, coaches reminded them just how bad it was. Randy Carlyle wanted to stimulate their memories about how embarrassed they were.
It worked. On Wednesday night the Maple Leafs turned the tables and embarrassed the Bruins in a 6-1 blowout at Air Canada Centre.
"The last game that we played against them, there was a lot of emotion and a lot of frustration," Carlyle said. "Our group, it was time to say: 'Hey, enough's enough. This isn't cutting it. We have to change the way we're approaching things.' And that's coaching included. That was enough."
Toronto improved to 6-1-1 since that 4-1 loss Oct. 25. The Leafs (9-5-2) even moved past the Bruins (10-7-0) in the Atlantic Division standings by walloping them in the rematch.
Phil Kessel torched his former team with two goals to get to 10 on the season. He helped chase Vezina Trophy-winning goaltender Tuukka Rask, who got the hook after surrendering four goals on 16 shots.
"You know what, I haven't scored many goals on him," Kessel said. "Tonight I was a little fortunate to get a couple past him. I don't know."
Morgan Rielly, Tyler Bozak, James van Riemsdyk and Peter Holland each scored a goal apiece. Jonathan Bernier was solid in making 25 saves despite not being tested much.
It was one of the Leafs' better efforts of the season, and some of the motivation for it was borne out of how they felt last month.
"I think we really felt liked we owed Boston one," said Holland, who scored his third goal in as many games. "Last time they were in here, we felt a little embarrassed about our effort. We wanted to make sure we came out strong, and obviously a couple quick goals in the second put them back on their heels and we were just able to maintain that momentum throughout."
Kessel scored his first goal 6:46 into the first period and then 18 seconds into the second. It was clear from the get-go the Bruins wouldn't have much of a response.
It worked. On Wednesday night the Maple Leafs turned the tables and embarrassed the Bruins in a 6-1 blowout at Air Canada Centre.
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| THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette |
"The last game that we played against them, there was a lot of emotion and a lot of frustration," Carlyle said. "Our group, it was time to say: 'Hey, enough's enough. This isn't cutting it. We have to change the way we're approaching things.' And that's coaching included. That was enough."
Toronto improved to 6-1-1 since that 4-1 loss Oct. 25. The Leafs (9-5-2) even moved past the Bruins (10-7-0) in the Atlantic Division standings by walloping them in the rematch.
Phil Kessel torched his former team with two goals to get to 10 on the season. He helped chase Vezina Trophy-winning goaltender Tuukka Rask, who got the hook after surrendering four goals on 16 shots.
"You know what, I haven't scored many goals on him," Kessel said. "Tonight I was a little fortunate to get a couple past him. I don't know."
Morgan Rielly, Tyler Bozak, James van Riemsdyk and Peter Holland each scored a goal apiece. Jonathan Bernier was solid in making 25 saves despite not being tested much.
It was one of the Leafs' better efforts of the season, and some of the motivation for it was borne out of how they felt last month.
"I think we really felt liked we owed Boston one," said Holland, who scored his third goal in as many games. "Last time they were in here, we felt a little embarrassed about our effort. We wanted to make sure we came out strong, and obviously a couple quick goals in the second put them back on their heels and we were just able to maintain that momentum throughout."
Kessel scored his first goal 6:46 into the first period and then 18 seconds into the second. It was clear from the get-go the Bruins wouldn't have much of a response.
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