Maple Leafs call up goaltender Pogge

Maybe JFJ Jr. actually reads this blog.

The Toronto Maple Leafs on Friday recalled goaltender Justin Pogge from the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League.

Pogge has appeared in 21 games for the Marlies this season with 13 wins, three losses, two shutouts with a 2.27 goals-against average. The Marlies currently lead the AHL’s North Division with 54 points.

Pogge was selected 90th overall in the 2004 NHL draft, one season after the Maple Leafs picked Tuukka Rask with their first-round pick. Rask was later dealt by general manager John Ferguson Jr. to the Boston Bruins for former Calder Trophy winner Andrew Raycroft.

Raycroft hasn't won in nearly two months and is 2-7-4 with a 4.01 GAA. Vesa Toskala -- acquired by Ferguson in an off-season trade with the San Jose Sharks -- is 13-12-4 with a 2.68 GAA, but has recently returned after missing six games with a strained groin.

It's uncertain if the Maple Leafs will give Pogge his first regular-season start on Saturday night when they wrap up their California road trip in San Jose, but coach Paul Maurice should seriously consider it. Toronto has allowed 10 goals in losses to the Anaheim Ducks and league-worst Los Angeles Kings, and 18 total in four defeats against Pacific Division foes.

THREE STARS OF THE NIGHT, JAN. 11

1. Mike Sillinger, New York Islanders: The well-traveled Sillinger scored twice in regulation and once in a shootout to lift the Islanders past the Calgary Flames, 5-4. Sillinger, who has played with 13 teams since breaking into the league in 1990 with the Detroit Red Wings, has never recorded a hat trick.

2. Josh Harding, Minnesota Wild: Minnesota was outshot 43-16 by the Chicago Blackhawks, but Harding made 41 saves in the 5-2 win. This was one night after stopping 26 shots in relief of Niklas Backstrom en route to a shootout win over the league-leading Detroit Red Wings.

3. David Vyborny and Adam Foote, Columbus Blue Jackets: Vyborny and Foote each had three assists in the Blue Jackets' 6-4 win over the St. Louis Blues. The duo each drew two of their assists on third-period goals by Nikolai Zherdev.