Maple Leafs could get Frattin back vs. Devils

Monday, 03.04.2013 / 12:37 PM

By Neil Acharya - NHL.com Correspondent / 2012-2013 At the Rink blog

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TORONTO -- Whether forward Matt Frattin returns to the Toronto Maple Leafs lineup will be a game-time decision according to senior vice-president and general manager Dave Nonis. Frattin has not played since Feb. 11 because of a knee injury, but was on the ice at the morning skate.

If he does play, he is expected to skate on a line with Nazem Kadri and Clarke MacArthur. Kadri, coming off his first career hat trick, is excited at the prospect of reuniting with Frattin.

"I can't wait, I've been waiting for him to come back since he went down," Kadri said. "He is a good player and obviously we have some chemistry together and hopefully we pick up where we left off."

In the event Frattin is unable to play, it is likely that Jay McClement will be inserted on the wing and David Steckel will center the fourth line between Colton Orr and Frazer McLaren.

Frattin has seven goals and three assists in 10 games this season.

James Reimer will get the start in goal for the Maple Leafs while the New Jersey Devils are expected to counter with Johan Hedberg.

Since Martin Brodeur was injured on Feb. 23 in the pre-game warm-up, Hedberg has struggled in the starting role. In his past four games, Hedberg, 39, has gone 0-3-1 with a 3.23 goals-against average and .854 save percentage.

Here's how the lineups could look for Monday's game:

MAPLE LEAFS

James Van Riemsdyk – Tyler Bozak – Phil Kessel

Leo Komarov – Mikhail Grabovski – Nikolai Kulemin

Clarke MacArthur – Nazem Kadri –- Matt Frattin

Frazer McLaren – Jay McClement –- Colton Orr

Dion Phaneuf – Korbinian Holzer

Carl Gunnarsson – Michael Kostka

Cody Franson – Mark Fraser

James Reimer

Ben Scrivens

Scratched – David Steckel, Mike Komisarek, John-Michael Liles