Leafs coach Sheldon Keef has confidence in Eric Kalgren

tomtidgewellNovember 26, 2022

Eric Calgren of the Toronto Maple Leafs defends a corner against the Boston Bruins during an NHL game at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto on November 5, 2022. Photo by Klaus Andersen /Getty Images

PITTSBURGH — Sheldon Keef figure Eric Calgren forgets what happened when the goaltender was in the Maple Leafs’ net.

The Leafs coach has certainly moved forward.

As the Leafs look to continue their success in their road trip Saturday night against the Pittsburgh Penguins at the PPG Paints Arena, Keef turns to Calgren and gives Matt Murray a night off.

Kalgren’s action will be his first since spitting the puck late in the third period against the New York Islanders on Monday, scoring the equalizing goal and the Isles defeating the Leafs in overtime.

“I’m not overthinking it. I’m going to be honest,” Keef said Saturday morning. “These games are coming at breakneck speed, so I’m going to focus on the games that are coming.

“Eric has handled different situations well during his time here, so he will have a fresh mind and be ready.”

Calgren is 2-2-4 with a .891 save percentage in nine games.

There’s another lineup change from the Leafs group that won Friday afternoon in Minnesota. This comes two days after he kicked off his four-game trip with a victory over the Devils in New Jersey.

Wayne Simmons, who started in Friday’s fifth game, will be a scratch and Dennis Margin will return at forward.

Winger Nick Robertson will make his second appearance in a row. Acquired from the Arizona Coyotes this week, defenseman Conor Timmins will wait until he makes his Leafs debut.

The Leafs will try to maintain their perfect loading record in November — they are 4-0 in away games this month — and an enthusiastic Mitch Marner will bring a 15-game points streak to the game.

Darryl Sitler in 1977-78 (18 games), Ed Olchik in 1989-90 (18 games), Dave Andreichuk in 1993-94 (16 games), Babe Dye in 1921-22 (16 games), and Just Jon Anderson’s Five Leafs. 1983-84 (16 games) — Longest streak of points in franchise history.

In his career against the Penguins, Marner has scored 15 goals (2 goals and 13 assists) in 16 games, including two goals in two games this season.

It will be the third time in 16 days that the Reefs and Penguins will meet and the last will be in 2022-23. Pittsburgh won 4-2 in Toronto on November 11, and the Leafs won 5-2 in Toronto on November 15.

The Penguins are expected to start with Casey Dessmith on goal, but there were no openings in the morning. Since losing to the Leafs, the Penguins have won five in a row, including Friday night’s win in Philadelphia.

“Definitely they’ve got their confidence back and they’re coming in with a lot of pace, energy and confidence,” Keef said of the Penguins. “They have the ability to be a really difficult team to deal with when they find their rhythm, as they have shown over time.

“We have to stay focused on what has given us the chance to win this trip. They have played very well as a group of five and we certainly need to do that here tonight.

Toronto is 3-0-1 in the second game of consecutive sets this season.

The Leafs, who are 8-1-3 in the past 12 years, face the Red Wings in Detroit on Monday.