Leafs good, Bruins better

After the Leafs started the game well they were ultimately dismantled

TORONTO — John Tavares has as definitive a view on leadership as there is in the NHL, and it’s part of the reason the Maple Leafs have done reasonably well weathering the loss of fellow centre Auston Matthews to injury.

But even with Tavares in the fold, there’s a nagging question remaining with the Leafs at this early juncture of the season.

It is this: is their current blend of talent, speed and playing structure good enough to match up against a team like the Boston Bruins, who are the Leafs’ ultimate measuring stick team at the moment?

After the Leafs started the game well, they were ultimately dismantled Saturday night by the Bruins and their sparkling top line. So the answer to that question, at least right now, is no.

Even with Matthews in the lineup, and the fact the Leafs own as good a centre corps as there is with Tavares, Matthews and Nazem Kadri, the prospect of the Leafs handling the Bruins now, or in a playoff series, just doesn’t feel strong.

That’s where the true value of what Tavares brings — in terms of his leadership, experience, and talents — is expected to make a difference.

But Tavares himself knows the battle for the Leafs to remain consistent — as well as for himself to set the example he wants to — will be a daily challenge. So far, Tavares has lived up to the challenge.

The Leafs, minus William Nylander (contract impasse), and missing Matthews for six of their 17 games so far, rank third overall in the NHL.

They have compiled a 4-2-0 record with Matthews sidelined (shoulder injury) — with Tavares scoring his team leading 10th goal Saturday, and 19th point (third on the team). The Leafs, though — in what was a measuring stick game against Boston Saturday — just didn’t measure up.

In their first visit to Boston since their Game 7 defeat in the first round of the playoffs last spring, Toronto contained the big line of Patrice Bergeron, between Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak — for one period.

That line blew them away after that.

WINSLOW TOWNSON THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Toronto’s Kasperi Kapanen, left, checks Boston’s John Moore into the boards in the Bruins’ 5-1 win over the Maple Leafs on Saturday night.