Van Ryn, Williams, Sifers Set To Go Tonight

UPDATE 10:20 am

Although the Leafs are still going through the paces of their morning skate, it looks as though Jeremy Williams will play in place of Niklas Hagman, while Mike Van Ryn has been given the go-ahead to return and will do so tonight.

Jamie Sifers was also called up due to the injury to Luke Schenn. With Van Ryn returning, no word on whether Sifers will play tonight.

Key Stat: The Leafs are 3-9 without Van Ryn in the lineup.

Catching Up With Felix "The Cat" Potvin

http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/columns/story?columnist=lebrun_pierre&id=3725538

A solid article as always by Pierre Lebrun as he catches up with former Maple Leafs goaltender and fan favourite Felix Potvin.

Just checking in with a few people on what the lines will be for tonight's game against the Sharks. Because of the time change it's still very early, and we likely won't hear anything until later in the afternoon here in Eastern Canada.

Also just a reminder I am conducting an interview later today with Toronto Maple Leafs prospect and current Windsor Spitfire Dale Mitchell. Be on the lookout for that late tonight/early tomorrow.

Wilson Up For Return To Shark Tank

LOS ANGELES -- Ron Wilson may be out of sight to one of the former players most likely to stand up to the hard-nosed Maple Leafs coach.

But he's never out of Blackberry range.

So Jeremy Roenick planned to get some advance jabs in before the Leafs visit San Jose tonight to take on the same Sharks team that released Wilson this past spring.

"I'll probably be watching (last night's game against the Kings) on TV and text him about what he's doing wrong," Roenick said yesterday in a phone interview from further up the Golden State. "He'll probably get (the message) between periods. Ron's a Blackberry junkie."

He may also be a good bluffer. Wilson grumpily cast aside the significance of his return to San Jose, saying tonight's game at the Shark Tank is "no sentimental journey."

Don't buy it, says Roenick, who perhaps understood Wilson better than any player he has coached during his 15 years in the NHL because they were able to cut through the mutual bluster.

"Absolutely not," Roenick said when asked if he believed Wilson's stance on tonight. "He had some fantastic years in San Jose and had a lot of respect both in the locker room and the community. He did a lot to get this team to an elite level.

"There's no way he can come in here and not feel some sort of emotion. It's impossible, especially with him having been here for so long."

It's six years ago this week that Wilson arrived in San Jose and began to transform the franchise into one of the NHL's best (and for fans in the east anyway, best-kept secrets).

Despite becoming the winningest coach in Sharks history by compiling a record of 206-134-45, Wilson was fired in May, ostensibly because the team was bounced from the second round of the playoffs each of the past three seasons. For his part, Wilson says he has moved on, that he has his "dream job" with the Leafs and that if you've been fired as often as he has, returning to a new building is old hat.

"I've been through this three or four times, it's not any different than any other game," Wilson said. "We are in a different set of circumstances than San Jose. We are a team that's trying to find our way and rebuilding. They are building for something else entirely.

FORGET IT

"(The Sharks) fired me, I was on the red eye and on the golf course the next morning. The first thing I did was bust out my golf clubs and move on."

The Sharks have moved on as well, leading the league in wins (20), points (41) and goals (92). But Roenick said Wilson deserves some of the credit and "the work ethic Ron helped build" still is evident in the locker room.

"I'm enjoying watching them have success and that's the honest to god's truth," said Wilson, who was replaced by rookie head coach Todd McLellan. "I spent a lot of time with those guys. They just continue to develop. We were the second best team in the NHL last year. Every year we got a little bit better with a ton of young guys."

For the most part, Toronto players still are trying to figure out their new boss. While Wilson isn't above the odd dressing-room prank, the aftershocks of his no-nonsense demands for accountability are still a challenge.

"I think it's going to be a work in progress," said Leafs forward Jason Blake, one of the players Wilson has ridden hardest. "He's a tough guy to read, but there's nothing wrong with that and I have the utmost respect for him. "His job is to get his players to perform up to their potential every shift, every night."

Perhaps because his interaction these days is mostly via text message, Roenick has a different take.

"I always liked Ron since I played for him in the (1998) Olympics," Roenick said. "I had an absolute blast last year. He made being around the locker room fun again.

"I wish I could be up there (in Toronto) to see him in action. With him and (new team president Brian Burke) that's a one-two punch I can't see losing for very long."

Article written by Rob Longley, Taken From Toronto Sun

Well, two games into the Brian Burke era, and two wins. Who knew he would have such a profound effect so early?

All kidding aside, the Maple Leafs played what head coach Ron Wilson phrased "a near perfect road game" and came out of La La land with two points Monday night.

Toronto looked shaky early on, giving up a goal just 57 seconds into the contest, but settled in and on the strength of their special teams, topped the Kings 3-1 at the Staples Center.

The Leafs penalty kill, finally heading in the right direction, was perfect, including a lengthy 5-on-3 in which the Leafs had three of their top defenseman in the penalty box.

The group of Ian White, Luke Schenn and Dominic Moore were hemmed in their own zone for over a minute, but countered with effective checking and timely saves by Vesa Toskala to scuffle the Kings efforts.

Matt Stajan, Mikhail Grabovski, and Jeff Finger scored for Toronto.

Random Game Thoughts

--You know I am not a fan of the instigator rule, but instances which took place last night make you wonder why the league is fighting so hard to keep it in, their officials don't know how to properly assess it anyway. Jeff Finger delivered a clean, neutral zone hit to Oscal Mollar. Kings forward Derek Armstrong took at least three strides, and grabbed Finger with his gloves off ready to go. Now, Finger was all too willing to oblige, but the fact remains, if that isn't instigating a fight, then I don't know what is.

--Speaking of Finger, he had another huge game last night, and is starting to become a real household name for the Leafs. Just like an offensive lineman, the less you hear of Finger the better, and sometimes you really have to take a game to just focus in on the work he does. He is a real solid shutdown defenseman for the Leafs, and is really starting to justify his salary.

--How about Matt Stajan? Battling an illness which saw him require intravenous, Stajan played an important role late in the game, and got the Leafs tied with the Kings on a simple play where he drove to the net.

--Jamal Mayers left the game with a hand injury and it was confirmed that he broke a bone in his hand. No word yet on how much time he will miss. Head coach Ron Wilson does have some options here. He can slide White up to forward and dress Jamie Sifers (who was called up for this road trip) or he can bring in Ryan Hollweg, who was also a scratch last night.

Article originally appeared on Bleacher Report