Leafs announce pair of lineup changes for tonight's game against the Flyers
Without John Tavares and Mitch Marner for Tuesday's game against the St. Louis Blues, the Leafs managed to play a very defensively-responsible game, holding the Blues to just 15 shots while getting secondary scoring from depth forward Bobby McMann, who had his first career hat trick on Tuesday. Their absences also led to Alex Steeves making his season debut for the team.
Tavares and Marner missed Tuesday's game with an illness that has been making its way through the dressing room. However, both, along with William Nylander, who missed practice yesterday, returned to the ice this morning for the optional skate. With the pair feeling better, that means that someone will have to come out of the lineup. Unfortunately, one of them is Steeves. The other appears to be Ryan Reaves, who stayed on the ice late at the morning skate, indicating that he'll be the other scratch.
With how well the Tyler Bertuzzi, Max Domi, Nicholas Robertson line played Tuesday, it will be interesting to see how Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe sets up his lines tonight. It would make sense to keep that line together and hopefully get Bertuzzi out of his slump, but knowing Keefe, he will likely revert back to the Bertuzzi, Tavares, Marner trio - a line that he has kept together for much of the season.
For Reaves, this one has to sting. He's been playing better hockey of late, but there are only so many roster positions to go around. The Leafs are obviously not taking Bobby McMann out of the lineup after his 3-goal performance on Tuesday. Pontus Holmberg and David Kampf have the luxury of being able to play center. Noah Gregor's speed has been an asset for the team all season long. Unfortunately, that leaves Reavo as the odd man out.
| POLL | ||
15 FEVRIER | 873 ANSWERS Leafs announce pair of lineup changes for tonight's game against the Flyers Do you think Bertuzzi has played well enough to stay in the top-6 despite his lengthy scoring drought? | ||
| Yes | 377 | 43.2 % |
| No | 496 | 56.8 % |
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