The Maple Leafs will need to overcome playing a defenseman short as they hope to inch themselves two points closer to an Atlantic Division regular-season title when they close out the season series on HNIC against the Canadiens (7:00 p.m. EST, Sportsnet/CBC). source
Matthew Knies – Auston Matthews – Mitch Marner
Calle Jarnkrok – John Tavares – William Nylander
Bobby McMann – Max Domi – Nicholas Robertson
Pontus Holmberg – Scott Laughton – Steven Lorentz
Morgan Rielly – Brandon Carlo
Simon Benoit – Chris Tanev
Philippe Myers
Anthony Stolarz
Joseph Woll
Scratched: None
Injured: Jani Hakanpaa (lower body), Max Pacioretty (tightness), Jake McCabe (undisclosed), David Kampf (upper body), Oliver Ekman-Larsson (undisclosed)
Status report: Demidov took part in the Canadiens optional morning skate but will not play; the forward signed a three-year entry level contract Tuesday. … Ekman-Larsson, a defenseman, is day to day and will not play after being injured in a 4-3 overtime win at the Tampa Bay Lightning on Wednesday. … The Maple Leafs will play with 17 skaters (five defensemen) because of roster limitations under the NHL salary cap. … McCabe took part in Toronto’s optional morning skate after not practicing Friday, but the defenseman will miss his fourth straight game.
Habs fan here. Hope it’s a good game.
If Habs win, they clinch a playoff spot. If Buds win, clinch top two in the Atlantic and home ice in the first round.
Should be entertaining… Tor with only 5 defencemen, Mtl will be very motivated to clinch a playoff spot.
Dang it. GG Leafs. Nice goal from that defenceman of yours, Marner.
A pp almost as bad as PP.
Nobody better get hurt.
