Maple Leafs captain Dion Phaneuf was missing from Friday’s practice after taking a puck in the face late in Thursday’s 4-0 shutout over the Winnipeg Jets.

But coach Ron Wilson expects his defenceman to play Saturday against the visiting Detroit Red Wings.

“Dion is resting at home. There is no break or anything like that.” Wilson said after practice at the MasterCard Centre. “We list him as day to day but I actually expect him to play Saturday.”

Phaneuf, 26, was struck on left side of his face late in the third period by a blast from Jets captain Andrew Ladd.

After the game, Wilson said Phaneuf didn’t lose any teeth but would be having an X-ray to determine if anything had been broken. He left the ice bleeding from the mouth.

There had been concern that Leafs might lose Phaneuf for an extended period of time and that his appearance in the NHL All-Star game in Ottawa on Jan. 29 might be in jeopardy. He was voted into the game by fans as one of two defenceman to earn automatic berths earlier Thursday.

Phaneuf had been having a strong game until he was injured. He hit a post on one blast from the point and earned his 21st assist (he also has 6 goals) of the year on Tim Connolly’s 7th goal that put Toronto up 2-0 in the second period.

Last season, Phaneuf missed 16 games when a skate blade sliced through his leg. Before being injured against the Jets, Phaneuf had logged 23:35 of ice time, most among Toronto’s defenceman and had also blocked three shots.

Defenceman Mike Komisarek has recovered from a broken arm (missed 21 games) and is ready to play. If it turns out that Phaneuf can’t play, then Komisarek’s activation from the injury reserve list won’t cause much of a ripple.

But if both play, then a defenceman has to sit in the press box.

Forward Mike Brown has also recovered from a hernia disc and he will play against the Wings. He skated on the fourth line at practice with David Steckel and Darryl Boyce meaning Matt Frattin is likely headed to the press box with Jay Rosehill for Saturday’s game.

There were only six defenceman at practice. Leafs returned Korbinian Holzer to the Marlies after Thursday’s game.

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GM Brian Burke has been reluctant to trade any of his defencemen this season because of the potential for injuries. Counting Holzer, Leafs are currently carrying nine NHL-calibre defencemen on their roster.

Cody Franson spent much of the earlier part of the season in the press box but has been a regular since Komisarek was injured on Nov. 17. Keith Aulie was called up from the Marlies on Nov. 27 and has been playing regularly since John-Michael Liles was sidelined on Dec. 22 initially with concussion-like symptoms and is now battling bronchitis.

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