Leafs vs. Montreal tonight at 7pm
Gustavsson to start against Habs
The Leafs will return Jonas Gustavsson to the net tonight when they face Montreal at the Bell Centre.
The game will mark the second time this season the rookie goalie will make back-to-back starts, but with Vesa Toskala remaining on the injury shelf for at least the next two days, Gustavsson will be the go-to guy for now.
"Of course you want to play ... and if they (Leafs) want me to play, of course I'd be thrilled with that, but I don't think you can say (I'm) the starting goalie," Gustavsson said as the Leafs finished off an optional practice this morning at the Bell Centre.
"It's always game to game, and it's a (competition) all season long. That will push me to be better and it's good for me and for Vesa, and for my development."
On Monday, as the Leafs lost 3-0 to Buffalo with Gustavsson in the net, Leafs coach Ron Wilson questioned the media when a query was posed regarding Gustavsson's confidence.
Wilson said it was unfair to place too much pressure on the rookie goalie, who has a 3.66 goals against average and .872 save percentage over his past six starts.
At the same time, the Leafs are forced into running Gustavsson over a stretch of games until Toskala returns from his minor groin muscle pull.
Toskala went through a rigorous workout with goalie coach Francois Allaire and several other assistant coaches at the Bell Centre this morning.
It was the stiffest test he's had since he suffered his injury a week ago Monday in a game against the Islanders.
"It's much better, much better," Toskala said.
"I guess the only thing left is I have to get things out of my head, not being afraid to jump from side to side (of the net)," Toskala said.
"That will come in practice when you go harder and work more."
Wilson also said Monday that he would like to have Toskala available right now to help relieve the pressure on Gustavsson.
Toskala said today that he could be ready for Thursday's game in Columbus.
"I would like to think so, but we'll see," Toskala said.
The Leafs, in the meantime, will also return defenseman Jeff Finger to the lineup tonight to fill in for the injured Carl Gunnarsson.
Gunnarsson, who sustained a suspected shoulder injury Monday, did not travel with the team to Montreal.
Wilson did not speak to the media this morning, but the team said there were no updates available on Gunnarsson as of this morning. The club also had no plans to recall a player from the Marlies.
Montreal, meanwhile, will counter with Carey Price, who will be making his ninth consecutive start and has been mostly spectacular in that stretch.
Montreal will also have forwards Scott Gomez (foot) and Matt D'Agostini (concussion-knee) back in the lineup tonight.
Here's the way the Habs lines and defence-pairings looked today in their morning skate:
Forwards
Sergei Kostitsyn-Tomas Plekanec-Mike Camalerri
Max Paciorety-Scott Gomez-Travis Moen
Tom Pyatt-Max Lapierre-Ryan White
Kyle Chipchura-Glen Metropolit-Matt D'Agostini
D-Pairings
Roman Hamrlik-Jaroslav Spacek
Paul Mara-Josh Georges
Marc-Andre Bergeron-Ryan O'Byrne
Goalie
Carey Price
Backup
Jaro Halak
(Two thumbs down to the schedule-maker for not scheduling these two rivals on Saturday night. What's this? Tuesday? WTF? I'd still wish i'd be able to attend the game tonight, though...)