Pregame: Minnesota Wild @ Toronto Maple Leafs – October 15, 2013

Toronto’s Notes: 

~ Last Game: OCTOBER 12 – TORONTO 6 vs. EDMONTON 5 (OT) – James van Riemsdyk and Joffrey Lupul each had two goals, and Dave Bolland scored in overtime to lift the Toronto Maple Leafs to a 6-5 win over the Edmonton Oilers at Air Canada Centre. Nazem Kadri also scored, Dion Phaneuf, Cody Franson and Mason Raymond each collected two assists, and Jonathan Bernier made 26 saves in the win. Ryan Smyth tallied twice for the Oilers while Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Boyd Gordon and Jordan Eberle each added a goal. Devan Dubnyk surrendered six goals on 26 shots in the loss for Edmonton. TOR PP: 1-3 / EDM PP: 1-4 / Shots: 26-31 

• Additional Notes: 

  • Dave Bolland’s goal at the 2:09 mark in overtime  was the second overtime goal of Bolland’s NHL career and his first for the Leafs, but it wasn’t his first OT goal in Toronto. Bolland scored his only other NHL overtime goal while playing for the Blackhawks in a game against the Leafs in Toronto on Nov. 22, 2008

  • Toronto overcame four one-goal leads, the Leafs haven’t had four score-tying goals in one game since Oct. 25, 1989 in an 8-6 win over the Penguins. It was the first time that the Leafs won a game in overtime after scoring a tying goal in the final minute of the third period since their 6-5 victory at Buffalo on March 15, 2004. In that game, Gary Roberts tied the score with 38 seconds remaining in the third period and Tomas Kaberle tallied the overtime winner. 

 

~ Injury Report:

• Mark Fraser – Knee – Expected to miss approx 4 weeks. Injury occured on October 2, 2013 at PHI – Games Missed: 4
• Nikolai Kulemin – Ankle – Expected to miss at least 2 weeks. Injury occured during practice on October 4 – Games Missed: 4
• Frazer McLaren – Broken Finger – Injury occured during practice at training camp on September 13, 2013 – Games Missed: 6

* James van Riemsdyk’s status for tonight is unclear. He didn’t par-take in practice yesterday (October 14th) as he was given a “maintenance day”. This morning during practice, he arrived late and left early. It is unknown at this time what the nature of the injury is, or if there even is one. 

 

~ Recent Transactions: 

• October 11 – Assigned T.J. Brennan to the Marlies. 
• October 15 – Recalled Trevor Smith from the Marlies.
  • * Leafs have also brought in long time Predators Center –  Jerred Smithson on a AHL tryout for the Marlies. 

 

~ Streaks:  

• Goals: Joffrey Lupul ( 5 / 4 games)  // James van Riemsdyk (3 / 2 Games) 
• Assists: Phil Kessel (3 / 2 Games) // Jake Gardiner (2 / 2 Games) // Nazem Kadri (2 / 2 Games) 
• Points: Joffrey Lupul (5-3-8 / 5 Games) // James van Riemsdyk (3-1-4 / 2 Games) // Phil Kessel (1-3-4 / 2 Games) // Nazem Kadri (1-2-3 / 2 Games) // Tyler Bozak (1-1-2 / 2 Games) // Jake Gardiner (0-2-2 / 2 Games) 

* Dating back to last season, Joffrey Lupul has scored 16 goals in the past 19 regular season games

 

~ Notes vs Minnesota:  

• 2012-13 Series: DNP 
• All-Time Record: 7-3-0-0 (5-1-0-0 at Toronto) 
• Last Game: January 19, 2012 at Toronto (Maple Leafs 4, Wild 1) 
• Next Game: November 13, 2013 at Minnesota 
• Current Streaks: Toronto (two wins)

~ Dion Phaneuf leads all Toronto players in career games played (33), goals (7), assists (9), points (16) and penalty minutes (38) against Minnesota.

~ Dave Bolland has 10 points (5-5=10) in 16 games. 

~ Jonathan Bernier has posted a 3-1-2 record with three shutouts and a 1.14 goals against average in six career games against Minnesota.

 

~ James Reimer stopped all 29 shots faced in his only start against the Wild (3/22/11). 

~ Minnesota General Manager Chuck Fletcher is the son of Maple Leafs’ Senior Advisor Cliff Fletcher.

 

~ Upcoming Milestones: 

• Jake Gardiner needs seven games for 100 NHL games played 
• David Clarkson needs three goals for 100 NHL goals (currently suspended) 
• Phil Kessel needs 13 goals for 200 NHL goals ; needs one assist for 200 NHL assists ; needs 14 points for 400 NHL point
• Dave Bolland needs one assist for 100 NHL assists 
• Jay McClement needs six points for 200 NHL points 
• Paul Ranger needs eight points for 100 NHL points

 

~ Record By Days Of The Week:

2013-14 Season:                                                              2012-13 Season:

• Sunday: 0-0-0                                                                Sunday: 0-0-0
• Monday: 0-0-0                                                              Monday: 6-2-1
• Tuesday: 1-1-0                                                              Tuesday: 3-3-0
• Wednesday: 1-0-0                                                       Wednesday: 3-2-1
• Thursday: 1-0-0                                                            Thursday: 6-6-1
• Friday: 0-0-0                                                                   Friday: 0-0-0
• Saturday: 2-0-0                                                             Saturday: 8-3-2

—–*—– 

Minnesota’s Notes: 

~ Last Game: Wild 2 at Sabres 1: Jason Pominville scored against his 30th NHL franchise, netting the game-winning goal as the former Sabres captain returned to Buffalo Monday night. Kyle Brodziak earned his first goal of the season, while Josh Harding made 22 saves to earn his third win in as many starts 

 

~ Injury: 

• Niklas Backstrom –3 games (knee strain)
• Charlie Coyle (IR) –4 games (knee strain)
• Mike Rupp (IR) –6 games (lower body)  

 

~ Recent Transactions: 

• October 14 – Recalled Darcy Kuemper from Iowa (AHL) 

 

~ Streaks: 

• Goals: None 
• Assists: Matt Cooke (3 / 3 Games) // Jared Spurgeon (3 / 2 Games) // Mikko Koivu (2 / 2 Games) // Jonas Brodin (2 / 2 Games) 
• Points: Matt Cooke (2-3-5 / 3 Games) // Jonas Brodin (1-2-3 / 3 Games) // Jared Spurgeon (0-3-3 / 2 Games) // Mikko Koivu (0-2-2 / 2 Games)

 

~ Wild vs Leafs: 

• All-Time Record: (3-7-0 overall, 1-5-0 in Toronto)
• 2012-13: Did not play.
• 2011-12: The Leafs topped the Wild 4-1 at Air Canada Centre in their last meeting (1/19/12). Joffrey Lupul registered three assists for Toronto. Joey Crabb, Mikhail Grabovski, Nazem Kadri and Phil Kessel scored and Jonas Gustavssonstopped 20 shots. Nick Johnson scored for Minnesota and Niklas Backstrom made 29 saves.

~ Dany Heatley has 51 points (27-24=51) in 40 games against the Maple Leafs, tied for his most points vs any team.

~ Jason Pominville had four points (3-1=4) in four games against the Maple Leafs last season and owns 48 points (18-30=48) in 50 contests, his highest total against any team.

~ Zach Parise has 17 points (10-7=17) in 24 contests. 

~ Backstrom is 2-2-0 with a 2.50 GAA and a .915 SV% in four starts vs. Toronto // josh Harding and Darcy Kuemper have not faced the Maple Leafs. 

~ Darby Hendrickson was selected by Toronto in the 1990 NHL Entry Draft and skated in 233 games with the Maple Leafs (1994-99).

~ Phil Kessel played one season for the University of Minnesota (2005-06).

~ Jake Gardiner is from Minnetonka. 

~ the Wild has scored less than two goals in six of its seven all-time losses to the Maple Leafs. In its three wins,
Minnesota has outscored Toronto 16-6. Three of Bernier’s seven career shutouts have come against the Wild. 

 

Additional Notes:  

~ Matt Cooke has five points (2-3=5) and two GWG in his last three games. He leads Minnesota in points (3-3=6), multi-point games (2), plus/minus rating (+5) and has yet to take a penalty 

~ Justin Fontaine and Mathew Dumba became the fourth Wild duo to score their first career NHL goals in the same game Saturday. Fontaine not only set a franchise record for fastest Wild goal to start a game (:12), he also matched the NHL’s record for fastest first career goal (Rick Boh, North Stars,1988) 

~ Mikko Koivu leads Minnesota with four assists this season, including a power-play assist last Tuesday to notch his 400th career NHL point (119-281-400). He also became the Wild’s all-time leader in power-play points Oct. 5. He needs 36 points to become Minnesota’s all-time leading scorer (Gaborik, 219-218=437). His 119 career goals are tied with Andrew Brunette for second on the Wild’s all-time list (Gaborik, 219)