Puck Drop: 7:00PM ET, Sportsnet Ontario
Goaltenders: Backstrom v Gustavsson
Fret not, after leaving Saturday's decisive win over Detroit with an injur, Mike Komisarek practiced this morning and will be in the lineup tonight against the Minnesota Wild. The Wild are 15th in the Western Conference and 28th in the league, setting up our second battle of bottom 3 teams this week.
Being in 29th place hardly gives the Leafs any right to call anyone an easy opponent, but let's hope Toronto's two week stretch of excellent play continues and the Leafs can pick up a win against a team without much offensive punch. The Wild are transitioning from a defensive trapping team to a more offensive style and so far it's been a rough road for them.
Brent Burns, who may have played his way off the Canadian Olympic roster this season, has been downright terrible posting a team worst -13. Martin Havlat, brought in to help people forget Gaborik, has one goal and is -12. Mikko Koivu is -11.
Before we take the Wild lightly though I think it's worth looking at their recent play. In their last four games Minnesota has played the Rangers, Penguins, Canucks and Stars and beaten everyone but Vancouver. Minnesota's a team looking to turn the corner and get back into high gear just like Toronto so tonight could be a real nail biter.
Go Leafs go, remember your SPG picks, check back here at 6:30 for the first period gameday thread. The guys over at SBN's Wild site Hockey Wilderness are pretty legit so maybe there'll be a field trip tonight.
