Auston Matthews In/Joseph Woll out as the Maple Leafs prepare for Game 7

We’re down to the final twenty minutes until puck drop and the Leafs are just now putting the finishing touches on their lineup:

Maple Leafs G Joseph Woll will not dress for tonight’s game due to an injury sustained in Game 6.

— Leafs PR (@LeafsPR) May 4, 2024

Given that we are a Leafs site we should probably start with the bad news. Joseph Woll is out, likely due to an injury on the final play of Game 6 when his shutout was broken.

The Leafs are going back to Ilya Samsonov as a result. Samsonov has been okay but his 1-3 record in the series is a far cry from Joseph Woll’s playoff leading netminding.

As for the good news, Auston Matthews looks to be in and here are the new look lines:

Leafs projected Game 7 lineup:

Holmberg — Matthews — Jarnkrok
Knies — Tavares — Nylander
Bertuzzi — Domi — Marner
Dewar — Kämpf — Gregor

Rielly — Lyubushkin 
Benoit — McCabe
Edmundson — Liljegren 

Samsonov starts

— Jonas Siegel (@jonassiegel) May 4, 2024

Despite the way Jonas Siegel has it written above, it is far more likely that Auston Matthews is looking at third line usage along with his usual powerplay time. Matthews has had success with both Holmberg and Jarnkrok before, but never at the same time. Both of his wingers have been buzzing at times this series but haven’t found their way onto the score sheet.

The decision to put Matthews with the third line players allows for William Nylander-John Tavares-Matthew Knies to stay together and coming out of Game 6 they are Toronto’s most productive line. There was a lot of good seen from the Tyler Bertuzzi-Max Domi-Mitch Marner line as well and Toronto will have three lines that can create opportunities.

As for the fourth line, the Connor Dewar- David Kampf- Noah Gregor trio gives the Leafs the best three options to add defence from the forward group when needed and likely get their best penalty killing results.

No changes have been made with the Leafs blueline and hopefully their commitment to shot blocking from Game 6 will carryover to Game 7 and the Leafs can give Ilya Samsonov the support the Leafs need to win.

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