The Maple Leafs wrap up their three-game home stand on Tuesday against the Western Conference-leading Anaheim Ducks, the only team in the NHL hotter than they are and one that they have many connections to.
Anaheim coach Bruce Boudreau and defenseman Francois Beauchemin are former members of the Leafs, while Toronto GM Dave Nonis and head coach Randy Carlyle both worked in Southern California under Brian Burke.
The Leafs have three former Ducks first rounders (Joffrey Lupul, Jake Gardiner and Peter Holland), as well as veterans Daniel Winnik and Stephane Robidas who played in Anaheim last season, a fact that should provide some motivation.
“It’s human nature, I think you always have special dates on the calendar, I know it’s special for me.… Carlyle said of playing against his former club. “There’s only probably about five guys on the team that are holdovers from when I was there. Things change in the NHL, but there isn’t a player or a coach that’s not going to say that he doesn’t want to beat his former team.…
Anaheim leads the NHL with 47 points(21-6-5 record) and are unbeaten in December, with seven wins in a row, including victories over Edmonton and Winnipeg on the weekend to begin their five-game road swing through Canada.
Toronto have had success against Anaheim, winning their last five regular season meetings(including a two-game sweep last season), but will be challenged to keep that streak going.
The Ducks will be without All-Star forward Corey Perry, who added a knee injury to his list of ills last week. Veterans Ryan Getzlaf and Ryan Kesler have combined for 57 points this season to lead the club, while Perry and pending unrestricted free agent Matt Beleskey lead with 14 goals.
Frederik Andersen(17-4-4, 2.38 GAA, .915 save %) will make his 27th start of the season for the Ducks, while Jonathan Bernier returns in goal for Toronto. Bernier is 7-2-1 in his last 10 starts.
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Leo Komarov and defenseman Roman Polak could make their return to the Leafs lineup this week.
TSN's Darren Dreger reports that Komarov's concussion symptoms are dissipating and that the best case scenario is that he could be back in the lineup against Philadelphia or Chicago on the weekend.
Polak took the morning skate with the Leafs at Air Canada Center on Tuesday and could be ready to return by the weekend or early next week to start Toronto's seven-game road trip.
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