tonytalkssports My Take on Sports, particularly the Yankees, Maple Leafs and Browns

Leafs Hope To Keep Things Rolling vs Flames

Not having played since last Saturday, the Toronto Maple Leafs will continue their extended early season home stand tonight against the Calgary Flames. The Flames are coming off a 4-1 Thursday night win over the Montreal Canadiens. It has been reported that the Leafs have worked extensively on special teams during the past week and hopefully we see the fruits of that work.

There will be lineup changes tonight as Clarke MacArthur returns from his suspension and Cody Franson will make his regular season debut. MacArthur will find himself back on the line with Mikhail Grabovski and Nikolai Kulemin as Matt Frattin will be shifted to the third line with Colby Armstrong and Matthew Lombardi. With Franson moving into the starting lineup, Jake Gardiner will be sitting out tonight's game. It is being reported that the Leafs will go with a 3 man rotation, Gardiner, Carl Gunnarsson and Mike Komisarek, for the 6th D-spot.

This week, Franson stirred things up a bit by expressing his disappointment with being in street clothes for the first two games of the season. The young defenseman that the Leafs acquired from the Nashville Predators was expecting a big role on the Leafs blueline. But, quite frankly I wasn't overly impressed with Franson in the pre season and maybe Leaf management wasn't either. Based on Franson's comments I wonder if Coach Ron Wilson didn't sense that Franson figured he had a spot on the opening night game roster locked up. Since Brian Burke has taken over as General Manager, we have heard over and over again about the need to eliminate the sense of entitlement that has existed on previous Leaf teams. Maybe that was the message that was being sent to Franson. He will have to be on his game tonight as I think the young defenseman has put a lot of pressure on himself.

How the message was delivered to Franson may leave a lot to be desired. According to the player, he found out about his demotion to the press box through the team's website. Ron Wilson has not confirmed or denied this which leads me to believe that Franson is telling the truth. I understand that Wilson wants to make it clear to Franson that he has to earn his keep but there may have been a better way to do it. This type of situation doesn't help Wilson's reputation in Toronto and don't be surprised if Don Cherry doesn't have something to say about it. Of course, I'm sure Wilson could care less what the fans, the media or Grapes has to say about the whole thing.

The Leafs will have to be on their game tonight and I don't think they can afford a third period breakdown like they had last week against Ottawa. With Mikka Kiprusoff in goal for Calgary, James Reimer will have to stand tall tonight to give the Leafs the opportunity to win another Saturday night contest. After a week's rest with plenty of practice time, the Leafs begin a stretch of 4 games in 6 nights: Flames, Avalanche and Jets at home and then their first road game on Thursday night against the Stanley Cup Champion Boston Bruins. The 3 home games are games the Leafs should win if they play to the best of their ability. Starting out 5-0 or 4-1 on this early season homestand would be a great start as they head out on the road for the Thursday game vs the Bruins and then road games in Montreal (next Saturday), Philadelphia and Madison Square Graden.

As usual I am fired up for the game as its Saturday night. Hopefully the Leafs can keep this train rolling the right way. Go Leafs Go!!!!