Wanna blog? Start your own hockey blog with My HockeyBuzz. Register for free today!
 

UPDATE: Sparks recalled, McElhinney gets start in Ottawa; Leafs vs Senators

January 14, 2017, 12:44 PM ET [995 Comments]
Mike Augello
Toronto Maple Leafs Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
For the latest Leafs updates or on Twitter

UPDATE: Per Chris Johnston of Sportsnet, Curtis McElhinney will start in goal for the Leafs against the Ottawa Senators.

*******

For those who thought that the Toronto Maple Leafs backup goaltending situation was straightened out with the addition of Curtis McElhinney, you would be wrong.

Leafs head coach Mike Babcock indicated after his club’s 4-2 victory over the NY Rangers at Madison Square Garden that the 33-year-old backup (picked up off waivers from Columbus last week) would get the start in Ottawa, but McElhinney reportedly suffered a minor injury during warm ups on Friday, which necessitated the emergency recall of goaltender Garret Sparks from the Toronto Marlies.



The 23-year-old has a 5-5-0 record, 2.04 GAA and a .925 save percentage with the Leafs AHL affiliate this season and made 17 NHL appearances with Toronto last season.

Sparks lost 2-1 to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Wednesday, but was the backup for Antoine Bibeau in a 5-4 Marlies loss in Syracuse on Friday, which could be a sign that Sparks will get the start against the Senators on Saturday instead of Andersen going back-to-back for the third time this season.

Babcock stated after a 5-3 loss to Montreal last Saturday that starting Andersen back-to-back nights was not the right decision (Leafs are 1-2-0 in the second of back-to-backs in which Andersen has started), but Babcock could be tempted to do so once again since Toronto is coming off a five-day break and do not play again until Tuesday.

The Marlies play Rochester at Ricoh Coliseum on Saturday and with the recent exodus of Jhonas Enroth and Jeff Glass signed Ryerson University goalie Taylor Dupuis to an amateur tryout to back up Bibeau.




*******

The Toronto Marlies suffered their third loss in a row, falling 5-4 to the Syracuse Crunch on Friday, but more importantly may have also lost winger Kasperi Kapanen to injury.

The 20-year-old winger assisted on Brendan Leipsic's goal in the second period, but was later checked low behind the Syracuse net by defenseman Jake Dotchin and hobbled to the bench with an apparent leg injury.



Marlies coach Sheldon Keefe could not provide an update on the extent of Kapanen's injury, but indicated that the winger (selected as an AHL All-Star last week) would not play against Rochester on Saturday.

Rookie Tony Cameranesi followed up scoring his first goal of the season on Wednesday with a two goal outing against the Crunch, while Frank Corrado registered a pair of assists.

*******If you are interested in sponsorship or advertising your business in the Greater Toronto / Southern Ontario area on this column, please send a message for more information by clicking on the “Contact” button at the top of the page.*******

KINDLE USERS: Please sign up for Maple Leafs Buzz, which includes a free-of-charge 14-day trial and is just 99 cents per month afterwards. For more information click here.
Join the Discussion: » 995 Comments » Post New Comment
More from Mike Augello
» Matthews Game-Time Decision; 2023 Draftees Update; Leafs vs. Capitals
» Leafs Frustrated And Immature In Loss To Devils
» Practicing Load Management Down The Stretch; Leafs vs. Devils
» Woll Wonderful In Loss To Canes; Keefe Downplaying Samsonov Injury
» Podcast Sunday – Off The Post Radio