Pogge gets the call

Justin Pogge will get a second shot to prove himself as an NHL goaltender when the Toronto Maple Leafs return to action on Tuesday evening.

Pogge will get the start in goal when the Leafs visit Minnesota for a date with the Wild. Head coach Ron Wilson felt that it was a good time to give the 22-year old another shot in goal because the layoff over the All-Star break kept Vesa Toskala and Curtis Joseph from playing or skating for four days.

Wilson said that Pogge will return to the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League following Tuesday's game, regardless of his performance.

Four years after Toronto drafted him 90th overall, Pogge finally got his first shot in the bigs last December when he was called up to replace an injured Toskala. Pogge won his rookie debut, a 6-2 victory over the Atlanta Thrashers.

The Maple Leafs called Pogge up on January 11, 2008, but he saw no playing time before being reassigned to the Marlies the following day.

The Leafs will also welcome defenceman Mike Van Ryn back in the lineup Tuesday evening for the first time since Dec. 18. The London, Ontario native has been sidelined with his second concussion of the season and recently passed a baseline test, clearing him to play.

Other news on the injruy front; Jeremy Williams (bruised left shoulder) and Jeff Finger (upper body) are still not ready for game action, although Finger may be ready for Thursday's tilt against the Avalanche.

Winger Niklas Hagman skipped today's practice, along with defenceman Tomas Kaberle who was given the day off because he didn't get the break over the weekend. Hagman is fighting the flu but is expected to play Tuesday.