Posted by Fresh off the All Star Break, the Toronto Maple Leafs resume action tonight making a very rare trip to the Xcel Energy Center in Minnesota to tangle with the Wild.
It has been over three years since the last time the Leafs travelled to Minnesota, and there are plenty of storylines to watch come puck drop.
Not the least of which will be Justin Pogge, the Maple Leafs prized goalie prospect, who will make his second NHL start in goal tonight. Pogge, who was solid in a 6-2 win over Atlanta earlier this season, has been told by GM Brian Burke that he will be called up periodically for the remainder of the season.
Another story to watch tonight will be the return of Leafs blueliner Mike Van Ryn, returning after suffering his second concussion earlier this season in a game against the Bruins.
Van Ryn, an off-season addition via trade with Florida, has been one of the Leafs most solid defenseman while healthy, and the teams record with the London, Ontario native in the lineup reflects that.
Rookie winger Nik Kulemin will also draw back into the lineup.
Kulemin has missed the past few games with a foot injury, suffered while playing for the Toronto Marlies of the AHL. Kulemin was sent down during the All Star Break to save the Leafs some money, and also to get in some valuable playing time in the AHL.
Niklas Backstrom will likely get the start in goal for the Wild. Fresh off an All Star appearance, Backstrom is 22-15-2, and boasts an impressive .926 save percentage.
Aside from the impressive numbers he is sporting with Minnesota, he is also in the final year of a contract that sees him paid $3.1 million. While the Wild will likely have the cap space to sign the Finnish netminder, particularly if they can deal Marian Gaborik. Backstrom’s services will not come cheap, with many teams vying for his services. Rumours are beginning to surface that the Toronto Maple Leafs may be among those teams.
And of course who can forget Owen Nolan, who faces his former team tonight as a member of the Wild. Nolan has had an injury riddled season, but has posted 19 points in 28 games.
The Wild go into tonight’s contest in 9th place in the Western Conference, just two points out of 8th.
Toronto, meanwhile, enters the tilt occupying the final spot of the NHL’s draft lottery.
Game time is 8 PM Eastern
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Pogge Shows A Lot Despite Ugly Leafs Loss At Hands Of Sabres
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