The Toronto Maple Leafs look to match the performance level that saw them end a three-game losing streak with a 7-3 pasting of the reigning Cup Champion Chicago Blackhawks Saturday, as they take on the Eastern Conference leading Pittsburgh Penguins at Consol Energy Center on Monday.
It is the second and final visit to the Steel City and should not be difficult for the Blue and White to get up for, when you consider what occurred there almost three weeks ago.
Toronto suffered a heart breaking 6-5 shootout loss to the Penguins on November 27, in which they jumped out to a 4-1 lead early in the second and chased Pittsburgh starter Marc-Andre Fleury. The Leafs allowed the Pens to get back into the game with three power play goals and having no ability to stop big Evgeni Malkin from forcing his way towards the goal.
Malkin tied the game midway through the third and scored the clinching goal in the shootout, capping Pittsburgh’s thorough domination in the second half of the contest, as they outshot the passive Leafs 19-0 in the third period and overtime.
The Leafs have endured with a depleted lineup without injured centers Tyler Bozak and Dave Bolland and suspended winger David Clarkson for most of the season, but that pales in comparison to the Penguins current plight, who will be without the services of seven regulars on Monday.
Malkin is day-to-day after injuring his left leg in the third period of Saturday’s 4-1 victory over Detroit and Pittsburgh will be without defensemen Paul Martin, Rob Scuderi, Brooks Orpik and Kris Letang, who are all on injured reserve.
Blueliner Derek Engelland is also out as he is scheduled to meet in person with NHL Director of Player Safety Brendan Shanahan on Wedneaday for his hit on Wings forward Justin Abdelkader. Forward James Neal is serving the second game of a five-game suspension for his knee-on-cranium hit on Boston’s Brad Marchand.
According to Sportsnet’s Chris Johnston the depleted Pens will be icing a second line of AHL callups Jason Megna and Harry Zolnierczyk with veteran Jussi Jokinen and their top defensive pairing will be 19-year-old former London Knight Olli Maatta and Matt Niskanen. Defenseman Philip "Son Of Ulf" Samuelsson was also recalled from Wilkes Barre/Scranton.
The Leafs cannot go into the game with any sense of comfort or complacency, as they are still facing a Penguins squad that has gone 8-1-1 in their last ten games and has Sidney Crosby, who leads the NHL with 46 points.
“We’re not going to feel sorry for anybody and their lineup concerns,… Leafs coach Randy Carlyle said Monday morning in Pittsburgh. “We’ve had our fair share of challenges.…
Toronto will go with the same lineup that put forth their most complete effort of the season, as Mark Fraser and Paul Ranger sit in favor of rookie Morgan Rielly and veteran John-Michael Llies on defense and Jonathan Bernier gets the start in goal. Bernier is making his fourth start in the last five games and replaced James Reimer in the first period of last Thursday’s 6-3 loss in St. Louis.
James Reimer will likely get the start in the second of back-to-back games against the Florida Panthers on Tuesday.
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The Leafs will get Clarkson back for the game against the Panthers on Tuesday, as he serves the final game of his two game suspension on Monday.
Bozak has begun light workouts and skating in recent days, but is not expected to return until the end of December or early January from the strained oblique.
Bolland is off crutches, had the walking boot removed two weeks ago and all indications are that the punctured tendon injury suffered six weeks ago is healing, but he is not close to getting back on the ice in the near future. The best case scenario for the 27-year-old center is a return before the Olympic break in early February.
Leaf Buzz recorded 12/16/2013 with myself and CTV's Norman James:
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