In a game that many Leafs fan were excited for, the Leafs were dominated all night long by the Boston Bruins. Toronto looked over matched much of the night not being able to handle the Bruins breakout. In a game that you would have thought the Leafs would come out firing, because of the nine year playoff hiatus, they didn’t really show up like many would have imagined. The Bruins showed just why they are the favorite to win the series and if they can pull off another win in Toronto on Wednesday, Toronto will have a hard time trying to fight back down 3-1 if that is the case.

May 6, 2013; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Cody Franson (4) keeps Boston Bruins forward David Krejci (46) away from Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender James Reimer (34) during game three of the first round of the 2013 Stanley Cup playoffs at the Air Canada Centre. Boston defeated Toronto 5-2. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports

GAME RECAP

There has been so much, probably too much, talk about the Chara Vs. Kessell match-up. Although Chara would probably pair up well against any opponent, he has done a good job shutting down the Leafs goal scorer. This is a game that Toronto finally started shooting the puck and weren’t rewarded for it, out shooting the Bruins 47-38. The reason Toronto lost obviously includes the play of James Reimer, not his best playoff performance, the face-off circle and the giveaways. If the Leafs can continue to shoot the puck like they did this game and tighten up the defense a little, they will definitely be successful next game. After being down 2 to the Bruins, who got goals from Adam McQuaid and Rich Peverly, the Leafs just could never get it together enough to equalize the game. Tuukka Rask saved a lot of the shots that he should have stopped and then some and that really helped the Bruins to get the victory. After being down 2, toronto managed to get within 1, with a goal from Jake Gardiner, who I thought played a very solid game. I’ve been saying since the start of the series he should be playing instead of other players such as Micael Kostka or Ryan O’Byrne. He is far more skilled and yes will make some mistakes but the positives far out weight the negatives. Not even 3 minutes later Nathan Horton, who continues to play well, and Daniel Paille, who scored a short handed goal, made it 4-1 Bruins. The game was pretty much out of reach for the Leafs as the third period began. Phil Kessel managed to cut the lead by one, but the Bruins were just too much as David Krejci put the final nail in the Leafs cofin to make the 5-2 score a final. The Bruins pretty much played what you would call “a perfect road win” as they managed to hold the Leafs to just two goals and got production from all different players as 5 different Bruins contributed. The Toronto Maple Leafs will look to equal the series once more on Wednesday night as they host game 4.

SENSHOT 3 STARS

1. Tuukka Rask, BOS – 47 saves
2. Milan Lucic, BOS – 3 assists, 5 shots
3. Jake Gardiner, TOR – 1 goal, 4 shots

Apr 2, 2013; Boston, MA, USA; Ottawa Senators goalie Robin Lehner (40) reacts to giving up a goal to Boston Bruins right wing Nathan Horton (not pictured) during the third period at TD Banknorth Garden. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports

John Muckler chose to re-sign Redden and let Chara go, and the rest is history.  Chara captained the Bruins to the Stanley Cup Chamions three years later, while Redden played 2 more mediocre seasons before going to the Rangers and being banished to the minors until this season.

Hindsight is 20-20, and the decision Muckler had to make was not enviable.  Redden had played his entire career in Ottawa, and was on the 2006 Canadian Olympic team, so the choice wasn’t as one-sided at the time as it appears 7 years later.

Fast forward to this season, and Senators GM Bryan Murray had a similar decision to make, although it was not as pressing.  Two promising young goalies, 1 net.  Murray had to choose between keeping Robin Lehner and Ben Bishop in the system despite both being ready, and the league’s top goaltender at the time he was injured, Craig Anderson.

The impending return of Anderson created a crowded crease once again, and the only option was to send Lehner back to Binghamton or trade someone.  With Anderson being the present and Lehner the future, there really wasn’t much room for Bishop in the long term plans.  Lehner took the first demotion in stride, but has shown he is NHL ready and might not accept it the same way a second time.

They could have carried 3 goalies for the last month of the season, but that wouldn’t do anyone any good.  So Murray made the decision to trade Bishop to the Lightning for Cory Conacher and a draft pick.  Sentiment seemed to be divided between loyalty to Bishop and to Lehenr as to who the fans would rather keep.

This will bring the inevitable comparisons for the rest of their careers, as they both move along to hopefully future successes.  Bishop got off to a great start with a 45 save shutout in his first appearance in Tampa, so if Lehner doesn’t copy the feat in his next start the whispering might begin.

But face the facts, the second guessing will do no good.  You can’t take the move back, and Bishop succeeding is to be expected.  Lehner might push him for the rest of the season, but if healthy Anderson will be the starter in Ottawa for the time being.

The comparisons are going to follow them along, but they are entirely unfair, as is the second guessing of Chara vs Redden.

At least Bishop got something in return for Ottawa, a luxury they didn’t get when Chara left town.