Toronto fans will get a good look at the revamped defence tonight when the Maple Leafs host the defending Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins at the Air Canada Centre.
You can watch the game on TSN and TSN HD, tonight at 7pm et/4pm pt.
Tomas Kaberle will be paired with the rugged Mike Komisarek while last year's rookie sensation Luke Schenn will play alongside veteran Francois Beauchemin as the Leafs gear up for the regular season.
Conversely, many forwards will be auditioning for jobs with most of the veterans being given the night off. Celebrated free agent additions Tyler Bozak and Christian Hanson will play on a line with Viktor Stalberg, who has impressed in the preseason.
Meanwhile, 2009 first round draft pick Nazem Kadri will skate with 2006 first round selection Jiri Tlusty and tough guy Jay Rosehill.
Vesa Toskala will get the start in goal for the Maple Leafs.
On the injury front, defenceman Mike Van Ryn will not play tonight, but might play in Buffalo on Wednesday. Head coach Ron Wilson would like to get him into three preseason games, but still has to talk to the trainers.
Goaltender Jonas Gustavsson (heart) was on the ice with the reserves today but he will not play tonight.
"I felt alright after two days so hopefully I will get better and better every day now so I can get into game shape soon," said Gustavsson. "But I don't know when I'm going to play."
For the Penguins, Jordan Staal and Tyler Kennedy were among a group of players skating in Pittsburgh this morning, prior to flying to Toronto for tonight's game. Sidney Crosby will not be in the lineup. Brent Johnson is expected to get the start in net and play the entire game.
Last night, the Penguins dropped a 4-3 decision to the Montreal Canadiens at the Bell Centre. Evgeni Malkin, Bill Guerin and Sergei Gonchar scored for the Penguins in a losing cause while John Curry allowed four goals on 28 shots.
