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Leafs meet Wings on HNIC with decisions to be made

Goaltending, defence, rookies among questions for Toronto coach Wilson

Last Updated: Saturday, September 26, 2009 | 6:18 PM ET

CBC Sports

Rookie goaltender Jonas Gustavsson stood up well in one period of action on Friday night at Joe Louis Arena. He's expected to play two periods on Saturday in the return match against Detroit. (David Guralnick/The Detroit News/Associated Press)

It's just five days until the Toronto Maple Leafs make their 2009-2010 season debut against the Montreal Canadiens, on Hockey Night in Canada.

Before that the rebuilding club will have to make some key decisions about how the roster is going to look as it sets out to meet general manager Brian Burke's stated goal of a playoff spot.

That would be the first time in the post-season since losing to Philadelphia in the conference semi-finals back in the spring of 2004, by the way.

Saturday night the Leafs host the Detroit Red Wings in the second half of a pre-season back-to-back (CBC Sports, CBCsports.ca, 7 p.m. ET), and they are expected to give rookie goaltender Jonas Gustavsson a good look.

What to do with the Swedish elite league sensation known as the Monster is among the questions facing coach Ron Wilson as he gets set to make his final roster cuts before the Habs come calling next week.

View from the net

Hockey Night in Canada shows off its new goaltending depth on Saturday night with the debut of Glenn Healey and Kevin Weekes.

Healey, a 14-year backstop with four teams, spent a number of seasons on Hockey Night as an analyst before heading off to work for the NHL Players Association.

He returns to HNIC after leaving the NHLPA at the end of the summer.

Weekes, meanwhile, is fresh from between the pipes, retiring with 348 games on his resumé, split among seven clubs.

The Scarborough, Ont., native will be working the season out of Vancouver, but on Saturday night he'll be in the booth with Jim Hughson and Craig Simpson at the Air Canada Centre for the pre-season game between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Detroit Red Wings.

Hockey Night already boasts former goalie Kelly Hrudey in its lineup.

Gustavsson, who had minor heart surgery at the beginning of training camp, played his first period with the big club on Friday night, stopping seven Wings shots.

"He used his size, and his rebound control is incredible," Wilson said in the post-game scrum.

The coach is planning on two periods of work for the youngster on Saturday night.

And then he's going to be faced with a choice of whether to use experienced backup Joey MacDonald to start the season behind Vesa Toskala and allow Gustavsson to play himself back into shape in the American Hockey League, or dress the youngster right away.

This weekend will also mark the final chance for a bevy of youngsters to convince Leafs management they can take one of the top six line spots the coach says they must do to make the club.

Third- and fourth-line spots seem pretty much set.

First-round pick Nazem Kadri is ticketed for a return to the junior London Knights, though just when it will be punched is up in the air after a six-point pre-season that included a goal on Friday in Detroit.

Viktor Stalberg had two goals at Joe Louis Arena in a Leafs win, and he's an intriguing question, as are Tyler Bozak, Christian Hanson and Jay Rosehill — rookies all.

"Some night's he's been our best player. His speed is incredible," Wilson said Stalberg.

Jeff Finger, who has been out with a strained muscle, may be back on defence for the Leafs on Saturday as Wilson works out who starts on the blue-line.

There are nine men with NHL experience back there, and with Tomas Kaberle, Francois Beauchemin, Mike Komisarek and Garnet Exelby, the candidates are tightly jammed.

Toronto finishes the pre-season on Sunday night at home to the Buffalo Sabres.

With files from The Canadian Press

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Internal Links

LIVE BLOG: Leafs vs. Wings on HNIC
Burke offered contract to Steve Moore: documents
Leafs prevail in Gustavsson debut
Fantasy Hockey: Who's the top goalie?

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