The Toronto Marlies may be without their leading scorer, but will welcome back a pair of goalies when they play host to Adirondack and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Friday and Sunday respectively.
The Toronto Maple Leafs recalled Jiri Tlusty from the Marlies (3-3-1-1) and reassigned forward Viktor Stalberg and goalie Joey MacDonald after netminder Vesa Toskala was reactivated from the injured reserve.
Earlier in the week, James Reimer was reassigned to the Marlies.
Tlusty has a three-game point streak and leads the Marlies in goals (six) and points (10) through eight contests.
MacDonald played three games in the NHL since being called up on Oct. 8 and went 0-3 while posting a 3.35 goals against average and .875 save percentage.
His best performance came in the Leafs’ 3-1 loss to the Vancouver Canucks on Oct. 24 when he stopped 22 out of 24 shots.
He started in the Marlies season opener against the Hamilton Bulldogs on Oct. 4 and made 30 saves in a 3-2 shootout victory.
Reimer played two games for the Marlies this season and is 1-1 with a 3.53 GAA and .873 save percentage.
Adam Munro has been the go-to-guy between the pipes in Toronto’s last four games. He has a 1-2-1 record with a 2.71 GAA and .919 save percentage.
There has been no indication as to who will start in goal this weekend.
Toronto has only one win in their last five matches and is coming off a 4-3 shootout loss to the Grand Rapids Griffins on Oct. 4.
Adirondack (4-3-1) lost 3-2 to the Albany River Rats, while Wilkes- Barre/Scranton (4-2-1) is coming off a 2-1 overtime loss to the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, both games on Oct. 24.
The Marlies won both games against the Phantoms last season and split their series with the Penguins, each team winning one at home
Former Marlies coach Greg Gilbert will be making his return to Ricoh Coliseum on the other side of the ice as bench boss of the Phantoms Friday night.
Toronto didn’t renew Gilbert’s contract in the summer after he coached the Marlies for three seasons.
They went 123-89-10-18 under Gilbert and lost a six-game series to the Manitoba Moose in the first round of last year’s playoffs.
Adirondack will be without defenceman Randy Jones who was claimed off of re-entry waivers Thursday by the Los Angeles Kings.
The Phantoms recalled goaltender Michael-Lee Teslak from the Elmira Jackets of the ECHL on Thursday.
Friday’s game will be the Phantoms’ first against a Western Conference opponent.
Like the Marlies, the Penguins will be without their leading scorer.
Chris Conner was called up by Pittsburgh Thursday after Evgeni Malkin strained his shoulder. Conner has two goals and eight points through seven games. Malkin is expected to miss two to three weeks.
Penguins forward Ryan Bayda is riding a three-game point streak with four goals and an assist during that span.
The game will be the final of a four-game road trip for Wilkes- Barre/Scranton.
Friday night will be Toronto’s first game at Ricoh Coliseum since Oct. 17 as they have played their last three away from home.
After Sunday’s game, the Marlies will embark on a six-game road trip and won’t return to Toronto until Nov. 21 against the Griffins.