Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Jake Gardiner sports six stitches in his upper lip from a puck he took to the face in the season opener as he warms up as the Toronto Maple Leafs play the Ottawa Senators at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto. October 8, 2011.
Rookie defenceman Jake Gardiner is in but coach Ron Wilson won’t say who the odd man out will be when the Maple Leafs play the visiting Winnipeg Jets on Wednesday night.
“It will be a game-time decision,” Wilson said after the pre-game skate.
Everything points to Cody Franson being back in the press box again after the former Nashville Predator played the past two games, and earning an assist.
What did Gardiner, 21, learn watching the past two games upstairs as a healthy scratch?
“I learned that my spot is never secure,” said Gardiner, Anaheim’s first pick (17th overall in the 2008 draft). “I know that I have to keep playing well to stay on the team. If I keep working hard, hopefully, I’ll be in the lineup for good.”
For now, Wilson intends to keep switching defencemen in and out of the lineup. It might not always be the Gardiner-Franson shuffle. Wilson wants to have an extended look at his blueline before he settles on who his top six defencemen will be. Gardiner’s ice time could also be increased against the Jets.
Gardiner, the surprise of Leafs training camp, expects to again be paired with veteran Mike Komisarek. Luke Schenn will be with John-Michael Liles while Carl Gunnarsson and captain Dion Phaneuf continue to play together.
Gardiner’s puck-carrying ability, crisp passing and poise not only allowed him to crack the opening night lineup but sent Franson to the sidelines and Keith Aulie down to the Toronto Marlies. He had five points (1 goal and 4 assists with 13 shots on goal) in six exhibition games.
The blue-chip Minnesota youngster came to the Leafs with Joffrey Lupul in last season’s trade that sent Francois Beauchemin to Anaheim.
“My goal tonight is to just play my game,” said Gardiner, who can’t remember ever not playing on any team he’s ever played for. “I just want to go out there with some confidence, the same way I approached my first game.
“It’s good to have seven guys, who can compete for a spot and compete for ice time. It makes your team better and more successful.”
Schenn understands how tough it can be for a rookie like Gardiner to be in and out of the lineup.
“He was probably our best defenceman in the exhibition season. It’s a difficult situation for him,” said Schenn, who has also struggled at times so far this season with his ice time being reduced.
“We have a bunch of guys here fighting for a job every night. That definitely pushes you and it makes our team better.”
Gardiner hasn’t been able to show as much offensive flare in his first two starts as he did during the pre-season. He didn’t pick up a point in his first two games.
“I believe I played well and hopefully I’ll get some more offensive breaks and get some bounces,” he said. “I’ve got to stick to playing defence first and the offence will come. I haven’t changed my mindset. I’ll jump into the play anytime.”
James Reimer will make his fifth consecutive start in goal but Wilson said Jonas Gustavsson will likely play Thursday in Boston where the Leafs (3-0-1) begin a four-game road trip. Reimer likely will be back in net against the Canadiens in Montreal on Saturday.
“I’ve said it a million times. We have a great D here. They played phenomenal in our first four games and they’re one of the main reasons for our success,” Reimer said after the pre-game skate. “They’ve done everything they could for our team and for me back there.”
Look for the Wednesday’s forward lines to remain intact.
That means Tyler Bozak plays between the red-hot Phil Kessel (league leading six goals and NHL first star of the week) and Joffrey Lupul. Mikhail Grabovski centres Nikolai Kulemin and Clarke MacArthur. Kulemin leads all Leafs in goals (six) and points (11) against the Jets (Atlanta Thrashers). MacArthur also played 21 games for Atlanta after being traded from Buffalo during the 2009-10 season.
Matthew Lombardi will be with Matt Frattin and Colby Armstrong, who played 179 games for the visitors when they played in Atlanta.
Philippe Dupuis anchors the fourth line with faceoff specialist David Steckel and Mike Brown as Colton Orr and Jay Rosehill join Franson in the press box along with the still injured Tim Connolly (upper body) and Nazem Kadri (knee strain).
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