Maple Leafs recall Leipsic and Morin

The rookie forward scored his first National Hockey League goal in his first game, Mark Arcobello scored his first two goals this season 17 seconds apart and the Toronto Maple Leafs beat the Vancouver Canucks 5-2 to end a three-game skid. Bernier has posted a 3.82 goals-against average while losing four straight road starts.

“I was kind of in limbo, not sure if I was going to get the call this way”, the 21-year-old said.

The pint-sized Winnipeger, a product of the Cody Franson trade with Nashville a year ago, was a threat all night on the fourth line with Rich Clune and Byron Froese.

Leipsic’s parents, Greg and Kathleen, were in the crowd at Rogers Arena to watch their son.

“They’re all professionals”, said Desjardins. “My junior billets from Portland were here, too”. Leipsic whacked the puck out of the air past Vancouver goaltender Ryan Miller. Already missing five key forwards, Toronto was also without Nazem Kadri for a second-straight game because of a lower body injury. James Reimer, who is likely to get the start in net, and Jonathan Bernier have each allowed seven goals in their last two games.ABOUT THE CANUCKS (22-20-12): Henrik Sedin, who is six behind his twin brother Daniel for the team scoring lead with 38 points, is slated to play his 1,141st game Saturday and pass Trevor Linden for first on the franchise’s all-time list. Corrado harbors some ill will due to his treatment this past training camp – he had an entire offseason wiped out rehabbing injuries he played through so he could stay in the lineup for Utica during the playoffs, and feels he earned more of an opportunity than what he was afforded. “We had back-to-back games and got in late last night”. “I was lucky enough tonight to get a couple of goals”.

No matter their slow fade in the standings, the Leafs can’t be faulted for effort during the Western swing. Toronto’s five-game road trip ends Monday in Chicago.

Babcock had praise for Leipsic, who Toronto obtained in a trade from Nashville on February 15. He beat James Reimer with a quick wristshot up high.

On three Vancouver power plays, the Leafs had a wall on their blueline, another positive development.

And with a home game against the lowly Toronto Maple Leafs set for Saturday, the Canucks know the door is open for a playoff push.

The Leafs made it 1-1 when Arcobello scored on Vancouver’s lazy breakout.

Babcock was happy to see defenseman Jake Gardiner collect two assists. The goals were the first two of the season for Arcobello.

It was interesting to hear Henrik Sedin, clearly disgusted by his team’s performance, talk after the game about how hard working and loose the Leafs were last night.

Miller regained some form after the Arcobello outburst.

The Canucks were coming off back-to-back road wins in Colorado and Arizona and were trying to put together their first three-game winning streak of the season. In the East, Ottawa and Montreal are still in striking distance. “I hope to be in Toronto for a long time, there’s no question about it, but I don’t think there’s one player in here that’s untouchable”.