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Some secretive NHL coaches would by no means reveal their lineups, even underneath ache of third-degree interrogation.
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However Monday’s might be a thriller, even to Sheldon Keefe, proper up till the unfamiliar midday puck drop in St. Louis for a Presidents’ Day tilt towards the Blues.
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4 Leafs who weren’t at Sunday’s observe – defencemen Timothy Liljegren, Jake McCabe, William Lagesson and centre Max Domi – are hurting in some method in keeping with the coach. The workforce known as up blueliner Marshall Rifai from the Toronto Marlies for what could possibly be his NHL debut, having already activated Max Lajoie earlier within the week when Morgan Rielly was suspended and Mark Giordano’s father died abruptly on Thursday.
Lagesson remains to be being assessed for an higher physique damage early in Saturday’s 9-2 romp over Anaheim, although Keefe says there’s some enchancment with him. Connor Timmins (mononucleosis) is getting higher, however not able to be cleared for observe.
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Centre John Tavares, who missed Saturday with an undisclosed situation, can be questionable, although appeared and felt tremendous after getting again on the ice Sunday.
“He, together with a number of others might be a game-time choice,” Keefe stated earlier than the workforce headed to Pearson for what might be a week-long journey with different matches in Vegas, Arizona and Colorado. “Particularly it being 12 o’clock and fewer time to kind by means of issues such as you usually would on sport day.
“Fairly actually, I don’t have any actual sense what our lineup will seem like tomorrow.”
However there was no sense of dread within the dressing room, given how the patchwork playbook has unfolded, three straight wins at dwelling, every with a hat trick, two by Auston Matthews and restricted pictures towards.
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“A extremely good week for us and lots of good issues to that,” captain Tavares stated. “The best way guys have actually thrived with alternative, our prime guys persevering with what they do, Auston on one other historic tempo (48 targets in 52 video games) and continues to raise.
“All through our lineup, the workforce sport continues to return alongside and earn the outcomes.”
With out all three blueliners, who’re additionally the highest energy play patrolmen, observe ended with a five-forward unit, using Mitch Marner on the again. Marner was additionally used there for a number of shifts at 5-on-5 on Saturday. Tyler Bertuzzi, who ended a horrendous droop with a aim in that sport joined Matthews, Tavares and William Nylander.
Tavares wasn’t positive if assistant coach Man Boucher was simply experimenting, however Keefe left the door open to attempting the 5 on Monday.
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“We’ve talked about it every day and it stays an possibility for us. We didn’t have Liljegren as we speak, however we prefer it, it’s intriguing and an choice to handle the minutes of the defenders.”
There was additionally the prospect Rielly would win his enchantment of a five-game suspension that’s presently being mulled by NHL commissioner Gary Bettman or get at the very least one lowered. He’s served three up to now and is eligible to return Thursday in Vegas. Bettman normally doesn’t grant main clemency when he takes a number of days to think about the enchantment, however Rielly is a first-time offender and the unexpected lack of Giordano this week makes Toronto’s personnel issues extra acute.
Rielly skated Sunday, with the entire exercise designed to function a morning skate for Monday’s sport in its uncommon time slot.
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Rifai, was known as up on an emergency foundation, having signed a two-year, two-way take care of new GM Brad Treliving after popping out of Harvard College and taking part in 2022-23 with the Marlies.
He’s confirmed some offensive potential within the AHL, however is extra famous for his six-foot body and 170 penalty minutes. That may be valued forward of extra expert prospects comparable to draft choose Mikko Kokkonen, contemplating the 4 street video games embrace some decidedly bodily opposition.
“He’s acquired some NHL attributes,” Keefe stated of Rifai. “He skates very well and closes area. We preferred his time right here at coaching camp and pleased along with his improvement with the Marlies as he’s settled in.”
Ilya Samsonov is projected to begin in web, with St. Louis native Joseph Woll on the journey as his lengthy restoration from a excessive ankle sprain nears an finish. However it isn’t full sufficient to bump Martin Jones as backup.
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