Maple Leafs vs. Flyers preview: James van Riemsdyk returns to Philadelphia

The Philadelphia Flyers (9-10-1) will host the Toronto Maple Leafs (11-8-0) at Wells Fargo Center on Monday night.

It will mark the second of three meetings between the teams this season.

In their first contest, the Maple Leafs managed to compile a 5-2 victory over the Flyers at Air Canada Centre on Feb. 11. Matt Frattin, Dion Phaneuf, Clarke MacArthur, Colton Orr and James van Riemsdyk provided the scoring for the Leafs, while Wayne Simmonds and Tye McGinn supplied the offense for the Flyers.

Toronto goaltender James Reimer earned the win, stopping 12 of 13 shots but was forced to leave the game due to a lower-body injury. He has not played since. Backup goaltender Ben Scrivens finished out the remaining 36 minutes of the contests, registering 32 saves on 33 shots.

Flyers goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov was tagged with the loss after allowing four goals on 14 shots. Backup goaltender Brian Boucher relieved Bryzgalov and stopped all but one of 10 shots faced in 34 minutes of playing time.

Entering Monday night, much of the focus will be framed on the return of van Riemsdyk to Philadelphia. Originally chosen with the No. 2 overall selection in the 2007 NHL Draft by the Flyers, van Riemsdyk was traded this past offseason to the Maple Leafs in exchange for defenseman Luke Schenn.

Some reports have detailed that the Flyers were dissatisfied with the consistency of van Riemsdyk's play. Those such profiles pointed to the 2011 playoffs when the young forward produced seven goals in 11 games, as what the organization wanted to see. In addition, there was reported disagreement over van Reimsdyk's ability to operate as a true power forward.

Upon joining the Maple Leafs, the organization quickly identified that they viewed van Riemsdyk as a big-bodied forward with size, rather than a power forward. It seems to be working for them, as the big bodied forward is currently leading the team in goals (11) and is tied for the team-lead in points (15).

The boost in production could be the product of how the Maple Leafs are choosing to use him compared to his time in Philadelphia, via Dave Isaac of the Courier-Post:

"It's no secret that I've been used more here and in different situations and with more opportunity," van Riemsdyk said. "I've been able to capitalize on that. I think I always showed when I had those opportunities here in Philly that I was able to perform. I've got those opportunities a lot more frequently here in Toronto."

Philadelphia will be entering the night as winners in three of their last four. Despite a sluggish start in their most recent contest against the Winnipeg Jets, the club managed a 5-3 come-from-behind victory. Forward Jakub Voracek has recorded 12 points (four goals, eights assists) over the course of his last five games, while Simmonds (three goals, four assits) and Brayden Schenn (three goals, four assists) have both contributed seven points over that span.

Monday night's game is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m., ET and will be televised on TSN and CSN-PH.