The blue & white take to the ice tonight against the recently lackluster New Jersey Devils. With new look Leafs Dion Phaneuf and JS Giguere inserted into the roster right away, many fans will be scrambling to check out this game tonight. It's only the second of 4 meetings this season, with the first game last Friday at Prudential Center. The first meeting was a 5-4 overtime win for the Devils after a gutsy third-period comeback from 4-2 by the Buds. Tonight will see the Leafs on home ice at the ACC, before heading back to the swamp on Friday.
The Devils have gone 3-6-1 in their last ten games, while the Leafs have actually been one point worse, sporting a motley 2-6-2 record. As the standings sit right now, Toronto are 27 points back of NJ, who sit in second place in the Eastern Conference with 72 points and the Buffalo Sabres only one point behind.
Everybody seemed to be rushing to figure out what Toronto would do with all the forward vacancies created by Sunday's clearance sale. It looks as though Freddie Sjostrom will step right into the lineup, likely playing with Kulemin and Wallin. Christian Hanson has been called up from the Marlies to play center, likely between Mitchell and Stempniak. Mitchell's move to the wing should be interesting, but Hanson was a center in his college days and it looks like the Leafs want to give him a shot at being a big-bodied middle man. His last call up with the Leafs was highly unnoticeable and this will be a new test for him to see where he can fit in going forward. At least Jeff Finger isn't actually playing forward, and will sit tonight as Exelby continues to stay in the lineup and (hopefully) bulk up his very low trade stock.
Here's the potential lineup for tonight
Kessel - Bozak - Ponikarovsky
Mitchell - Hanson - Stempniak
Sjostrom - Wallin - Kulemin
Orr - Primeau - Rosehill
Phaneuf - Beauchemin
Kaberle - Gunnarson
Schenn - Exelby
Giguere - starting
Gustavsson
I'd expect these lines to be juggled, and a definite mix-up in the back end. I wouldn't be surprised to see Phaneuf play a few minutes with Kabby so we'll wait and see what happens.
Injuries:
For the Leafs, Mike Komisarek will remain out of the lineup due to his shoulder injury, along with Mikael Grabovski (knee) and (do I really have to say it?) Mike Van Ryn.
The Devils are missing Paul Martin (arm), who will also be out of the Olympics. Patrick Elias (concussion) and tough guy David Clarkson (leg) will also remain on injured reserve.
If you can't catch the game I'm sure the season premiere of Lost could be on your radar. For everyone else, enjoy the Devils and Leafs!
-MSU
