When the Toronto Maple Leafs head down to Florida for a potential playoff preview, they will be doing so without the services of Max Domi and Bobby McMann.
Sheldon Keefe says Bobby McMann will miss the final two games of the regular season.
Max Domi will miss tomorrow’s game and likely Wednesday’s game too.
— David Alter (@dalter) April 15, 2024
McMann exited Saturday’s game with a lower-body injury after colliding with Alex DeBrincat and Sheldon Keefe was initially coy about McMann’s status. The 27-year-old’s absence during these last two regular season games is most likely for precautionary reasons, but Keefe did mention today after practice that the team will assess his availability for Game 1 later in the week.
Domi is dealing with an ailment that may be affecting his ability to play so they are sitting him for Tuesday’s game against the Panthers. He is currently deemed unlikely to play on Wednesday in Tampa Bay, though the way Keefe framed it there is a chance Domi could slot in depending on how things shake up in terms of his injury.
Jarnkrok back for Game 1? Keefe: “It’s still to be determined, but he’s more a day-to-day situation. Unfortunately, we’re running out of schedule. We’ll just have to see where he is. He’s going to be traveling with us.” #Leafs
— Terry Koshan 🇺🇦 (@koshtorontosun) April 15, 2024
Calle Jarnkrok will be joining the team for this upcoming road trip but it remains to be seen if he will be good to go for Game 1. At this time, he is listed as day-to-day which is certainly encouraging in the sense that he is getting closer but it also remains uncertain just how much more time he needs before he can play again. For what it’s worth, he took some reps during practice which included special teams drills.
The goaltending plan for the Leafs in the final two games.
Keefe: “Woller will go tomorrow and then we’ll take it from there.”
— David Alter (@dalter) April 15, 2024
Joseph Woll has been confirmed to be the starter for Tuesday’s game against Florida but who gets the nod on Wednesday is still undetermined. While it might make sense to give Ilya Samsonov one more start given how poorly his last two starts went, it is also important to get Martin Jones a game because the last thing the Leafs want is to have to turn to him when he is so far removed from his previous start. Besides, that game will have no bearings on the standings so there is no risk in going with Jones instead of Samsonov.
Leafs defenceman Jake McCabe on taking a shot to the face & leaving Saturday’s game:
“Got lucky. It’s always kind of scary with the eyes, but I feel fine. I can see fine. Everything’s fine. Nothing’s broken.”
Has stitches below his left eye@TSN_Edge
— Mark Masters (@markhmasters) April 15, 2024
On a more positive note, Jake McCabe seems like he will be good to go for one or both of the last two games. He had to get some stitches under his left eye after taking a puck to the face, but the cut was not severe enough that it would impact his vision of the ice. You can expect him to get into at least one of the games and get the night off for the other.
Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe says defenceman Joel Edmundson (undisclosed) looked good at practice
“We’ll see where he’s at tomorrow just to be sure, but practice today was a positive sign for him” @TSN_Edge
— Mark Masters (@markhmasters) April 15, 2024
It also appears Joel Edmundson is on track to return to the lineup soon after sitting out Saturday’s game against the Red Wings. When exactly he will get back in is unknown at this time, but the fact he had a good practice as Keefe described it, is certainly encouraging nonetheless.
Lines at last Leafs practice of regular season
Bertuzzi – Matthews – Marner
Knies – Tavares – Nylander
Robertson – Holmberg – Gregor
Dewar – Kampf – ReavesRielly – Lyubushkin
Benoit – McCabe
Edmundson – Liljegren
Giordano – Timmins
BrodieSamsonov
Woll
Jones@TSN_Edge— Mark Masters (@markhmasters) April 15, 2024
The Leafs have come full circle as they have put Tyler Bertuzzi with Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner, just like they did to begin the campaign. Matthew Knies’ stint on the fourth line appears to be on hold since he goes back into the top six, while Noah Gregor slides in to fill in for the injured McMann. It also appears TJ Brodie will be a projected healthy scratch tomorrow, which puts into question his status for the playoff lineup. Otherwise, the lines are fairly similar to what was used over the weekend.
The Leafs will head down to Florida to take on the Panthers. You can catch the action on TSN4 and puck drop is set for 7:30 p.m. EST.
