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Komisarek almost ready to return

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Updated Nov 27, 2009 11:30 PM ET
     
 

ABSTRACT Wilson expects defenceman to rejoin Maple Leafs early next week

FULL TEXT Defenceman Mike Komisarek will return to the Toronto Maple Leafs lineup next week, according to head coach Ron Wilson. Komisarek has been on the Leafs' injured reserve list since he tore a quadriceps muscle in a game Nov. 12 against the Minnesota Wild. Wilson said he was told by the Leafs' medical staff that Komisarek will be ready to play either by next Monday's game against the Buffalo Sabres or the next night when the Leafs play the Canadiens in Montreal. Given the improved play of the Leafs' defence lately, Wilson will have to think a while before making his decision on who will be scratched to make room for Komisarek. A week or more ago, that decision would have been much easier, as rookie Carl Gunnarsson was called up from the Leafs' Toronto Marlies farm team to replace Komisarek and made his NHL debut on Nov. 14 against the Calgary Flames. Since then, his play steadily improved, culminating in three assists in Wednesday's 4-3 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning. "We do things, if you can, on merit," Wilson said after the Leafs practice on Thursday in preparation for Friday's game against the Florida Panthers. "Somebody else is going to have to come out of the lineup when [Komisarek] is ready to play. It's not going to be Carl, I can tell you that." The most likely candidate is Garnet Exelby, who has been rotating in and out of the lineup most of the season with fellow veteran Jeff Finger. Finger had just established himself in the lineup ahead of Exelby when he suffered an undisclosed injury to his lower body in last Saturday's 2-1 win over the Washington Capitals. Left winger Jason Blake, who was demoted to the fourth line for the Tampa game, did not play his way back to the top three lines. He remained on the fourth line with centre Jamal Mayers and right winger Colton Orr for Thursday's practice. Rookie Jonas Gustavsson, who played well against the Lightning, will start again on Friday in goal for the Leafs. Goaltender Vesa Toskala (groin) is not expected to be ready to play for another week. Forward Jay Rosehill, who was with the Marlies on a conditioning stint, was officially assigned to the American Hockey League team on Thursday.
Tagged: Lightning, Mike Komisarek, Jeff Finger, Maple Leafs, Garnet Exelby

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