Maple Leafs at Flames
THE STORY: Two Canadian teams on the playoff periphery meet in
Calgary on Tuesday when the Toronto Maple Leafs visit the Flames.
Toronto begins a three-game jaunt through Western Canada having lost
three straight games, dropping them into a battle with the Washington
Capitals for the final playoff berth in the Eastern Conference. The
Maple Leafs face a Flames team also scrambling for a spot in the Stanley
Cup tournament, but is on a high with points in five straight games
(3-0-2).
TV: 9 p.m. ET, RS Ontario (Maple Leafs), RS West (Flames)
ABOUT THE MAPLE LEAFS (28-22-6): Toronto may be without veteran
defenseman Carl Gunnarson, who suffered a leg injury during Monday's
practice in Toronto and will be checked out on Tuesday. If he can't go,
blueliner Mike Komisarek will be summoned from the press box to take his
place. Gunnarson has been one of Toronto's most reliable defensemen
this season. He has two goals and 14 assists in 55 games.
ABOUT THE FLAMES (26-22-8): A rash of injuries down the middle
has forced Calgary to move Michael Cammalleri from the wing to center.
Coach Brent Sutter says he has no qualms with the shift. "It's what he
used to play," Sutter said. "He's actually excited about it. It was
something he brought to me a couple of days ago - if something happens,
if we need somewhere there, he will certainly play. I'm very comfortable
with that."
OVERTIME:
1. Calgary has won four of the last five meetings.
2. Toronto defenseman Dion Phaneuf is still looking for his first point
against his former club. Phaneuf, who came to Toronto in January 2010,
is scoreless with a plus-4 rating in three games versus Calgary.
3. The Maple Leafs have won only two of their last nine road games.