Leafs: Boyle prepares for Lightning flashback, Andersen for Pats glory

TAMPA, FLA.— Watch for Brian Boyle to have a big game Thursday.

The hulking centre makes his return to Amalie Arena as a Maple Leaf, having been traded by Tampa Bay at the deadline.

“These things happen. They got rid of me. They traded me. I guess they didn’t need me that much,” Boyle said. “So I’m going to go out and prove that I’m on this team now and I’m here to win. I look at it as (the Maple Leafs) gave up something to get me.”

Boyle, who will put his relationships with his old teammates “on pause,” said he is adjusting to life as Leaf.

“You say goodbye to a lot of people. You say hello to a lot of people. There’s an eight- or nine-hour window where you don’t know where you stand. But the guys have been great to me. It’s a very welcoming place.” SHUFFLING THE DECK: Maple Leafs coach Mike Babcock juggled his defence pairings in practice on

Wednesday, the day after a 7-2 loss in Florida.

He paired Alexey Marchenko with Morgan Rielly and Nikita Zaitsev with Jake Gardiner, dropping Martin Marincin in out of the top six.

He was asked what he was looking for.

“I’m looking for the puck not to go into the net,” Babcock said. “Sometimes you fix something to fix it. Right now, it’s not as smooth as it should be.”

MASK OF THE IRISH: Goalie Frederik Andersen has been working out in a green mask with a Toronto St. Pats theme. It features sketches of Pat Quinn, Red Kelly and other Leafs with Irish heritage.

Andersen said he needs to work it in before wearing it in a game. The Leafs will wear their rarely seen green jerseys Saturday against Chicago.

“Usually (new masks) are a little tighter. They feel tighter on your face. When they get hit with some pucks, they widen out a little bit. After a few practices, it should be better,” he said.