Kulemin injury forces Leafs to change lineup

Saturday, 10.05.2013 / 12:47 PM

By Joe Yerdon - NHL.com Correspondent / 2013-2014 At the Rink Blog

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TORONTO -- The big news out of Toronto on Saturday concerns forward Nikolai Kulemin. Coach Randy Carlyle says the Russian winger has a chip in his ankle that will keep him out of action for at least two weeks. Rookie Spencer Abbott has been called up from the Toronto Marlies to take his place.

"To say it's not a significant injury would be incorrect," Carlyle said of Kulemin.

The Leafs will have to hope Abbott's high-scoring ways from his time at the University of Maine can translate to the NHL.

The news of Kulemin's injury managed to overshadow the news of 2012 first-round pick Morgan Rielly making his NHL debut tonight. With Mark Fraser on long-term injured reserve with a knee injury, it opens up the opportunity for Rielly to jump into action. He was paired up with Jake Gardiner during the morning skate.

James Reimer started in Toronto's season-opening victory over the Montreal Canadiens and is expected to start Saturday. He will bring a sterling 8-1-1 record against Ottawa into the game.

As for the Ottawa Senators, they're coming off a 1-0 victory Friday night over the Buffalo Sabres that saw Craig Anderson stand on his head, stopping 35 shots for the shutout. He'll be back in the net against Toronto but there will be a couple of changes from last night's lineup otherwise.

Joe Corvo will take Eric Gryba's spot on the blue line while Matt Kassian will play in place of Stephane DaCosta.

Here's how the two lineups could look Saturday night:

MAPLE LEAFS

James van Riemsdyk – Tyler Bozak – Phil Kessel

Spencer Abbott – Dave Bolland – Joffrey Lupul

Troy Bodie – Nazem Kadri – Mason Raymond

Carter Ashton – Jay McClement – Colton Orr

Dion Phaneuf – Carl Gunnarsson

Paul Ranger – Cody Franson

Morgan Rielly – Jake Gardiner

James Reimer

Jonathan Bernier