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Leafs falling in November

November 18, 2011, 11:54 AM ET [ Comments]
Mike Augello
Toronto Maple Leafs Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
As the temperatures turned colder and the trees shed their foliage, the Toronto Maple Leafs are experiencing an autumnal losing streak that has given back nearly all of the progress made in the first month of the season.

After winning two road victories in New Jersey and Columbus at the beginning of the month, the Leafs have gone into their traditional November swoon, losing five of the last six games. Their losing ways have coincided with offensive struggles, as they have only scored eight goals in the past six games.

Following Saturday night's contest against the Washington Capitals, the Leafs embark on a four-game road swing through Carolina, Tampa Bay, Dallas and Anaheim, before finishing out the month at home against Boston.

That harrowing schedule is made even more difficult since the club will be without a number of key veteran players.

In last night's 4-1 loss in Nashville, Toronto lost defenseman Mike Komisarek and forward Matthew Lombardi to injury, which the team could ill afford, having already lost center Mikhail Grabovski and winger Clarke MacArthur earlier in the week.

Add those injuries to the loss of winger Colby Armstrong and goaltender James Reimer and the team has lost most of their scoring depth, as well as their number one goaltender.

Coach Ron Wilson indicated that both Komisarek and Lombardi suffered "upper body" injuries last night and will be lost to the team for at least three weeks.

Grabovski will be out at least two weeks with a right knee injury.

Komisarek had been playing some of his best hockey as a Leaf in recent weeks, providing toughness and muscle on the blueline. Cody Franson, who is been a healthy scratch for 14 of 19 games and has not made any impact in the games he has played in, will take Komisarek's spot in the lineup.

With the loss of Grabovski and Lombardi, it is likely that GM Brian Burke will recall either Joe Colborne or Nazem Kadri from the Marlies. Kadri is the more likely choice to be called up since Colborne; the AHL's leading scorer, is just coming back from an injury and Burke mentioned recently that he hesitates to call up a player who is just returning to the lineup.

On the positive side, goaltender James Reimer practiced 35 minutes this morning with goaltending coach Francois Allaire and reportedly is seven to ten days from being able to play, if there are no setbacks.

Clarke MacArthur's injury from Tuesday night was not as serious as once thought and he may be able to return for Sunday's match against the Hurricanes in Raleigh and Mike Brown, who was a late scratch last night, could be ready to go for the weekend.

The Leafs ability to weather the next few weeks with a weakened lineup and questionable goaltending will likely be a determining factor of whether this team can contend for a playoff spot. Their impressive October gave them some cushion, but if they continue down the losing path for too long, they will spend the rest of their season trying to catch up.

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