MAPLE LEAFS (9-4-0) at FLAMES (5-4-2)
TV: TSN
Last 10: Toronto 6-4-0, Calgary 5-4-1
Season series: This is the first of two games. The Toronto Maple Leafs and Calgary Flames split two games in 2011-12, each winning at home.
Big story: Though most of the attention was paid to Calgary losing captain Mark Giordano for 6-8 weeks with a broken ankle, the Flames on Tuesday also announced forward Lee Stempniak would be out week-to-week with a broken foot. Stempniak had one point in nine of the Flames' 10 games and ranked third on the team in scoring (Jiri Hudler 13; Sean Monahan 10).
"When you feel like you're playing well and contributing and helping the team, it makes it more frustrating," Stempniak told the Flames website. "Hopefully, I don't miss too much time, I can get back on the ice at some point soon, and get out there quicker than expected."
Stempniak played on the second unit for each of the Flames' special teams.
"It's going to give some extra responsibilities to some other guys whether it's on penalty killing or power play or 5-on-5," coach Bob Hartley said. "[Stempniak] was on the ice in many key situations for us. Well, [Stempniak's] not here. We still need to go. We can't shut down."
Team Scope:
Maple Leafs: This is the third back-to-back set of the season for Toronto, which won the second game of the first two. James Reimer may have earned his third straight start after shutting out the Edmonton Oilers 4-0 Tuesday. If not, Jonathan Bernier will be back in net.
The duo has combined for a .941 save percentage.
They have become used to facing an awful lot of shots. The Maple Leafs have allowed fewer than 31 once in their 13 games. Reimer stopped 43 Tuesday.
"As a team, I don't think we want to give up 40-plus shots, but having said that, I don't think it was as dangerous as the quantity suggested," Reimer said. "Our defense and our whole team did a heck of a job of eliminating second chances. Edmonton played well and came at us, but I thought we protected the house really well."
Toronto is visiting Western Canada for the first time since mid-February 2012.
Flames: Though not as high-profile as some other reunions this season, Calgary forward Joe Colborne will face the team that traded him away in September. Colborne played 16 games for Toronto over the course of three seasons. The Boston Bruins made him the 16th pick in the 2008 NHL Draft, then included him in a 2011 trade for Tomas Kaberle.
"You always want to show well against your old team, but I've moved on from that," Colborne told the Flames website. "I'm so excited with the opportunity that we have here as a team, and right from Day One it's been a great experience for me, and they've given me a great opportunity, especially these last few games, playing with some great players."
Colborne will center Mike Cammalleri and TJ Galiardi.
Who's hot: Toronto forward Phil Kessel has seven goals and three assists in the past four games, including two goals and two assists against the Oilers. … Jiri Hudler had a season-opening nine-game point streak, was scoreless in game 10, then had an assist Saturday against the Washington Capitals. Rookie Sean Monahan has at least one point in eight of his 11 NHL games. Defenseman Dennis Wideman has three points in his past two games.
Injury report: Maple Leafs forward Joffrey Lupul (foot) returned to play Tuesday. Nikolai Kulemin (ankle) and Tyler Bozak (lower body), and defenseman Mark Fraser (knee) are on injured reserve. Kulemin and Fraser took part in the morning skate Tuesday. Bozak will have another MRI exam soon. … Flames defenseman Christopher Breen (abdominal wall) is day-to-day. Giordano and Stempniak are out. Also a special shout out to Olivia Be-Leafs who will be watching the game with me tonight haven't seen her in over a year GLG.
Teams that want to battle for first place in their division win games like this.
