Auston Matthews is skating at Scotiabank Arena before Game 4. He's been battling an illness and missed practice yesterday.
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Auston Matthews returns, an update on McMann, and some lineup changes: Leafs Practice Notes
Photo credit: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports
By Jon Steitzer
Apr 27, 2024, 11:30 EDTUpdated: Apr 27, 2024, 13:56 EDT
Saturday morning the Leafs held an optional skate prior to Game 4 tonight, here are a few of the takeaways from that skate:
Auston Matthews returned to the ice for the optional skate after being unavailable for yesterday’s practice while he gets over his illness. Ilya Lyubushkin has also returned to the ice after returning to California for a few days to welcome his new daughter into the world.
The Leafs have used Nick Robertson and Connor Dewar as placeholders for Matthews between Max Domi and Tyler Bertuzzi, and pretty clearly that indicates that Sheldon Keefe has no interest in breaking up his top line and reuniting Matthews with Marner.
Sheldon Keefe says T.J. Brodie is preparing to play tonight Third pair hasn’t been as good as the others, coach says Adds that Timothy Liljegren hasn’t been 100 per cent @TSN_Edge
As for Lyubushkin, he will likely be back with Rielly tonight as well and Timothy Liljegren with Timothy Liljegren as a placeholder for him the past couple of days. Both Liljegren and Lyubushkin could be the player sitting and it would be understandable, you could put Benoit or Edmundson in that consideration as well but given that Keefe has been purposeful in putting Edmundson with Brodie, but the health status difference is a good enough reason for sitting Liljegren over the others.
Not that there was much doubt but Ilya Samsonov is doing his starter’s routine and is the projected starter against the Bruins tonight for Game 4.
While there is always an allure of the mystery box and what happens if the Leafs go to Joseph Woll, Ilya Samsonov hasn’t given the Leafs a reason to give up on him in this series and he’ll start again tonight. The Leafs concerns around goal production.
The Maple Leafs are preparing for William Nylander to play in Game 4 against the Bruins, says Sheldon Keefe.
Until William Nylander is on the ice for the Leafs in a Game, it’s pretty hard to view him as a lock for the lineup, although if he does slot in it will likely be alongside Holmberg and Jarnkrok on the third line and on the top powerplay unit. (More on Nylander can be found here and here.)
Nick Robertson, who was a bit late getting to the ice for the optional skate, said he was just leaving a meeting about his line tonight with Kampf and Reaves. A strong indication that the #Leafs are preparing for Nylander’s return tonight.
As David Alter states, the movement of Robertson to the fourth line is an encouraging sign for Nylander being in. It also looks like Connor Dewar is the odd man out. Dewar has been effective in his fourth line role with Kampf and Reaves, but Robertson has also been solid in making the most of his limited icetime, creating scoring chances when he’s been on the ice. Given the Leafs struggle to produce offence, taking Robertson out would have been a step backward, even if it means breaking up a fourth line that has been exceeding their expectations.
Keefe on McMann: "We certainly miss him. In terms of an update, he's progressing well. We'll start to see him back on the ice here soon. In terms of his availability in this series, that is yet to be determined. I know he has been feeling a lot better." #Leafs
Great news for the Leafs on the McMann front and if they can hold on long enough to get McMann back in their lineup, the Leafs suddenly look like a team that has four very challenging lines to match against, assuming everyone is playing at their best.
Sheldon Keefe says the Leafs are “preparing for” William Nylander to play in Game 4. Projected lineup: Bertuzzi — Matthews — Domi Knies — Tavares — Marner Nylander — Holmberg — Järnkrok Robertson — Kämpf — Reaves Rielly — Lyubushkin Benoit — McCabe Edmundson — Brodie Samsonov
Lack of change to the Tavares line aside, this should be an encouraging lineup card for the Leafs.
Game 4 is tonight at 8pm ET.
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