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PHILADELPHIA - The always changing Maple Leafs lineup will have two new faces tonight when Toronto faces the Flyers here.
Injuries to John Mitchell and Freddie Sjostrom in Saturday’s bruising shootout win against the Ottawa Senators have forced management to call up a couple of players from the AHL to fill out the roster.
Centre Tim Brent and left winger Jay Rosehill are expected to arrive in time for the third meeting of the season between the two rivals.
Both Mitchell and Sjostrom left the game with what the team is describing as “upper body injuries.”
Mitchell was nailed by the Sens’ Chris Neil, a shoulder shot to the head that had the Leafs steamed. It was believed Mitchell suffered a mild concussion but he made the trip to Philly with the team. Mitchell did participate in an optional skate this morning and was hoping to get clearance from team doctors to play tonight.
Sjostrom, meanwhile, took a hit from Matt Carkner and likely suffered a shoulder injury.
Rosehill has played in 14 games for the Leafs this season, scoring one goal and an assist while racking up 57 penalty minutes. It will be Brent’s first start with the Leafs this year.
After a rugged shootout effort on Saturday to cap off a busy post-Olympic week, Leafs coach Ron Wilson scrapped Sunday’s gameday skate. Centre Mikhail Grabovski joined Mitchell at the Wachovia Center but isn’t expected to be back in the lineup until Tuesday at the earliest.
J.S. Giguere is scheduled to return to the Leafs net tonight.
