The Toronto Maple Leafs hope to rebound from a lopsided home loss to the New York Islanders, as they take on the underachieving Penguins at Consol Energy Center in Pittsburgh on Wednesday.
Unlike most of their games this season, the Leafs did not keep their second of a home-to-home with the Isles close, as their defense and goaltender Jonathan Bernier allowed six goals on 15 shots at Air Canada Center on Tuesday.
Bernier was pulled after two periods in favor of James Reimer, who returned to the active roster on Tuesday after missing over three weeks with a groin injury.
The Morweena, Manitoba native was supposed to get the start in the second of back-to-back games, with a career record of 4-0-2, 2.27 GAA and .931 save percentage against the Penguins, but Sportsnet's Christine Simpson reports that Reimer felt tightness after playing the final period and that Bernier will get the start. Goalie Antoine Bibeau has been recalled from the Toronto Marlies on an emergency basis.
The club also recalled forward Mark Arcobello from the Marlies. The 27-year-old forward was ineffective in a fourth line role with the Leafs early in the season, going scoreless in seven games before being demoted. In 23 games with the Marlies, Arcobello has 12 goals and 15 assists and is 7th in AHL scoring with 27 points.
The recall of Arcobello could have to do with the injury to Leafs forward Byron Froese in the 6-3 loss to the New York Islanders on Tuesday. Toronto was at 12 forwards on their active roster after demoting Richard Clune back to the AHL last Saturday and with Nick Spaling on injured reserve.
The Marlies lost 2-1 to Lake Erie in Cleveland on Tuesday and have their rematch with the Monsters at Ricoh Coliseum on Thursday afternoon, so it is possible that Arcobello could be sent back after the Leafs contest in Pittsburgh.
The second reoccurrence of groin issues with Reimer and the current injury status of Garret Sparks gives Leafs head coach Mike Babcock little option than to go with Bernier in the short term.
The Penguins in spite of having top end offensive talent like Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and former Leaf Phil Kessel are 28th in the NHL with 79 goals and are five points behind the last Eastern Conference wild card spot.
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