Maple Leafs’ Game Day: Florida Panthers @ Toronto Maple Leafs 11/08/11

The Toronto Maple Leafs will once again turn to Jonas Gustavsson, who will start for the Maple Leafs tonight as they host the pesky Florida Panthers tonight. Although they aren’t viewed as a force in the Eastern Conference, the Florida Panthers seem to always give the Maple Leafs a run for their money.  Last season, the Maple Leafs and Panthers tied their season series 2-2. Their last meeting was on March 17^th 2011, when the Florida Panthers shut the Maple Leafs out 4-0.

Former Maple Leaf Kris Versteeg will play his 2^nd game in Toronto since being traded to the Philadelphia Flyers last season.  In his first game back in Toronto, Kris was held off the score sheet. However, Kris is off to a great start with the Panthers. He’s leading the Panthers in points, and scoring at a point per game pace.  (13P in 13GP).

Jose Theodore is expected to get the start for the Panthers, while Jonas Gustavsson is set to play in his 9^th game of the season. James Reimer is still out with his upper body injury.

Toronto Maple Leafs Expected Lines:

Nikolai Kulemin – Mikhail Grabovski – Clarke MacArthur
Joffrey Lupul – Tyler Bozak – Phil Kessel
Matt Frattin – Matthew Lombardi – Joey Crabb
Mike Brown – David Steckel – Philippe Dupuis

Carl Gunnarsson – Dion Phaneuf
John-Michael Liles – Mike Komisarek
Jake Gardiner – Luke Schenn

Jonas Gustavsson
Ben Scrivens

Scratches: Jay Rosehill, Colton Orr, Cody Franson
Injuries: Colby Armstrong (Ankle), James Reimer (Upper Body), Tim Connolly (Upper Body)

Florida Panthers Expected Lines:

Tomas Fleischmann – Stephen Weiss – Kris Versteeg
Marco Sturm – Marcel Goc – Jack Skille
Scottie Upshall – Mike Santorelli – Tomas Kopecky
Sean Bergenheim – Shawn Matthias – Matt Bradley

Brian Campbell – Jason Garrison
Keaton Ellerby – Ed Jovanovski
Dmitry Kulikov – Mike Weaver

Jose Theodore
Scott Clemmensen

Scratches:  Erik Gudbranson
Injuries: Mikael Samuelsson (Groin)