In search of their first win, the Maple Leafs are turning to their third goalie as free-agent off-season acquisition Joey MacDonald gets his first start for Toronto.

The floundering team, winless in five and off to one of worst starts in franchise history, is also planning on a major shakeup at forward by sitting veterans Matt Stajan and Niklas Hagman.

Their spots will be taken by Viktor Stalberg, who is back after missing two games with a suspected concussion, and Tyler Bozak, another call-up from the Marlies who will be making his NHL debut. Those two U.S. college products impressed together with Christian Hanson on a line dubbed the Frat Pack during training camp.

"Why not? It has to be significant change," said Wilson when asked why he had targeted Stajan and Hagman. "To sit out guys who play on the fourth line but have given a really good effort makes no sense to me."

"We have to shake things up. It can't always be like the movie Usual Suspects; it's easy to pick on the fourth-line guys. We need more from everybody and although (Stajan and Hagman) have scored some goals, their overall play isn't where we need them to be. So we'll give opportunities to younger people, as simple as that."

Stajan, a healthy scratch last season for a game, was philosophical about his fate.

"It's a winning business. And if you don't win, you're going to change things up and see if that will give your team a boost," he said.

Incumbent No. 1 goaltender Vesa Toskala, banged up towards the end of the second period in a 7-2 loss at New York on Monday, suffered an unspecified injury. He was sent by the Leafs to get an MRI Tuesday but Wilson would not offer any further detail other than to say the team doesn't expect him to be out long term.

Even if Toskala wasn't hurt, Wilson said MacDonald was going to make his Leafs' debut tonight. The Leafs also recalled James Reimer from the Marlies on emergency basis to serve as MacDonald's backup.

"It's really exciting getting the opportunity," said MacDonald, who played 49 games with the Islanders last season. "It's tough coming into a situation like this but, hey, that's what goaltending is all about. If you're on a winning streak or losing streak, you have to do the best you can."

The good news for the Leafs is that Phil Kessel, who has been working out with the injured players on the team, participated in a game day skate with a complete lineup for the first time. It's one more step toward Toronto getting the sniper in the lineup as he recovers from off-season shoulder surgery. Kessel is expected back in mid-November.

"You always want to get back early, but you know, you've got to look at the long run," he said. "It gets to you. I'm still a couple of week away here but I'll be back soon enough. I'm going to be here for five years, so I want to be healthy all five years I'm here."