Gustavsson has surgery, Stefanovich scores twice in Leafs scrimmage

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TORONTO - Goaltender Jonas Gustavsson had minor heart surgery, rookie right-winger Mikhail Stefanovich scored two goals in a scrimmage and returning forward John Mitchell continued to impress at Maple Leafs training camp yesterday.

The NHL club's exhibition opener is at home tonight against Boston and coach Ron Wilson says among players in the lineup will be rookie standouts Tyler Bozak and Nazem Kadri, comeback longshot Jason Allison and intimidating bashers Colton Orr, Andre Deveaux, Phil Oreskovic and Jay Rosehill.

"We outlawed fisticuffs (during camp) so we've got some guys who are itching to show us what they can do if it comes to that," said Wilson.

"We're good and ready for some exhibition games."

There'll also be games tomorrow in London against Philadelphia, Friday in Pittsburgh and back home Saturday against the Flyers.

Gustavsson went to hospital with a racing heartbeat following fitness tests Saturday, took part in on-ice sessions Monday, and had minor surgery yesterday.

"They go in and touch a part of his heart that was misfiring," said Wilson. "It's a simple procedure that's actually fairly common with athletes.

"It's not a difficult procedure. We don't expect him to miss more than 48 hours. You don't want him to put his gear on until he's comfortable and there's no risk of infection (at the site of the incision in the groin area)."

Gustavsson, who was lured from his Swedish team with a big free-agent deal, or Joey MacDonald, who got into 59 games with the New York Islanders last season, will probably start the NHL season as Vesa Toskala's backup.

"Joey MacDonald has looked really good in the scrimmages so he'll take up a couple of the periods (in exhibitions) Jonas would have played," said Wilson.

MacDonald spent six years in the Detroit organization before his stint with the Islanders.

"It's never been easy," said the 29-year-old goalie from Pictou, N.S.

"When I started in Detroit there was Hasek, Osgood, all these big-name goalies, and when I came into this camp it wasn't any different than any other year.

"I had to battle it out last year to get the No. 2 spot and then the No. 2 turned into the No. 1. It's a strange game and things can happen in a hurry."

Stefanovich has been one of the best rookie forwards so far.

After Toronto took him with its third pick in the 2008 entry draft, 98th overall, he scored 49 goals in 56 games with Patrick Roy's junior team in Quebec.

He's from Belarus and speaks little English.

He's 19 and, if he doesn't steal a big-league job, he can either be returned to Quebec or assigned to the AHL Marlies.

Allison would have to beat out Mitchell, Matt Stajan or Mikhail Grabovski to land the top-six forward spot he covets and that appears highly unlikely.